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

(ATTN: RECASTS throughout with context; CORRECTS typo)

SEOUL/BEIJING, July 30 (Yonhap) -- A senior North Korean official arrived in China on Saturday en route to Brazil for the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games.

Choe Ryong-hae, vice chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, was seen entering the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, about an hour after he arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport at around 10 a.m.

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said in a brief dispatch that a delegation led by Choe left Pyongyang to participate in the Olympic Games, without elaborating.

It remains unclear whether Choe -- who currently doubles as the head of North Korea's commission for physical culture and sports -- would meet with any Chinese officials before heading to Brazil.

China has been moving to forge better ties with North Korea after its relations with South Korea soured with Seoul's decision to deploy an advanced U.S. anti-missile system.

South Korea and the United States said the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is meant to better deal with the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

Still, China and Russia have repeatedly expressed opposition against the system out of concerns the deployment could hurt their strategic security interests.

Choe last visited China, North Korea's closest ally, in September last year to attend a massive military parade in Beijing designed to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of its war against Japan.

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

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