Kim Jong-un likely making day trip to China in first visit in over a year, ahead of possible Trump meeting

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who made a surprise visit to China — his first in more than a year — is likely to return home the same day, said Yoon Geon-young, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker who leads his party's side on the National Assembly's intelligence committee.

"It seems almost certain that Chairman Kim will return today," Yoon told Yonhap by phone Saturday.

On the purpose of the visit, Yoon said he believed Kim had two goals: sending a positive signal regarding a North Korea-US summit, and marking an event in North Korea-China relations, such as the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge.

He also pointed to the schedule of China's Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, set to open Monday, adding that "there is no reason to stay long" given the bridge-opening ceremony. "This will be a very short visit," he said.

Yoon also raised the possibility that Kim's trip coincided with what China calls its "Resist America, Aid Korea" commemoration day. China, which refers to the Korean War as the "War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea," marks Oct. 25 each year as the anniversary of its entry into that conflict.

As for who Kim would meet during the visit, Yoon added that "it is important to see who he meets in China — that remains to be seen."

A meeting between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping was seen as unlikely, according to sources familiar with the matter. In a separate press notice, Yoon said it had been confirmed that Kim met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

A member of the National Assembly's intelligence committee also told Yonhap that Kim was believed likely to meet Premier Li Qiang and other Chinese officials who attended the New Yalu River Bridge opening ceremony.

Political circles are also paying close attention to the timing of Kim's China visit, which comes ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit to be held in China next month.

US President Donald Trump has previously suggested he could meet Kim on the sidelines of APEC. However, Trump said Monday he was unsure whether such a meeting would take place.

Yoon noted that ahead of the 2018 inter-Korean summit and the North Korea-US summit, Kim visited China twice, and that Kim Jong-il — Kim Jong-un's father — also coordinated with China ahead of the inter-Korean summit with President Kim Dae-jung in 2002.

He stopped short of concluding that the China visit was specifically aimed at preparing for a North Korea-US summit, saying "one can draw that inference, but it may not necessarily be the case."

Kim Dae-sik, a People Power Party lawmaker who leads his party's side on the National Assembly's foreign affairs and unification committee, said by phone that Kim Jong-un's visit to China "could carry the meaning of rebutting rumors about his death, as well as pre-coordinating with China ahead of a possible North Korea-US summit."

Earlier, the National Intelligence Service visited the National Assembly's intelligence committee Friday to brief the committee chair and multiple ruling and opposition party members on the possibility that Kim would travel to China that day.