North Korean leader Kim Jong-un headed back home Wednesday after wrapping up a trip to China during which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for talks apparently aimed at discussing strategies ahead of a possible summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Kim's special train departed from the Beijing railway station at 2:08 p.m. local time with Kim and his entourage on board. He is expected to arrive in Pyongyang early Thursday morning.
Kim came to Beijing by train on Tuesday and held summit talks with Xi hours later. Details of their hourlong meeting were not disclosed. After the talks, Xi hosted a welcome reception for Kim. Tuesday was Kim's 35th birthday.
Earlier Wednesday, Kim visited a pharmaceutical factory located in the economic-technological development zone in the Chinese capital. Sources said that he spent around 20-30 minutes touring the plant operated by Tong Ren Tang, a drug-making conglomerate known for its history of more than 300 years.
Kim reportedly had lunch with Xi before heading to the station.
He was accompanied on the trip by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and other officials, including Kim Yong-chol, a key nuclear negotiator with the U.S., and Ri Yong-ho and No Kwang-chol, the country's foreign and defense ministers, respectively. His younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, was also among the entourage. (Yonhap)