Ranking N. Korean official stops in China on way to Brazil for Olympics

SEOUL/BEIJING, July 30 (Yonhap) -- Vice chairman of the North Korean ruling party's central committee Choe Ryong-hae arrived in Beijing on Saturday, believed to be en route to Brazil for the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games.

In an earlier dispatch from Pyongyang, Japan's Kyodo News reported Choe left the North Korean capital while en route to Brazil, quoting unidentified diplomatic sources there.

Choe arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport at around 10:00 a.m. on a North Korean flight. About one hour later, he was seen entering the North Korean Embassy in the Chinese capital.

North Korean Ambassador to China Ji Jae-ryong accompanied Choe from the Beijing airport to the embassy building.

Whether Choe would meet any Chinese official in Beijing remained unclear.

Some diplomatic sources insisted Choe's stop in Beijing appeared to be for transit reasons only, and that the North Korean official may soon set out on the rest of his journey.

Choe last visited China, North Korea's closest ally, in September to attend China's events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of its war against Japan.

Sources said Choe would stay for about one week in Brazil to attend the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

Around 30 North Korean athletes have been sent to Brazil to complete in wrestling, judo, marathon and six other sports at the Olympics.

Choe is currently doubling as the head of North Korea's commission for physical culture and sports.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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