(3rd LD) N. Korean leader Kim may visit Beijing in what would be 3rd trip to China: report

(ATTN: CHANGES dateline; RECASTS throughout with updated info)

SEOUL/BEIJING, June 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may visit Beijing soon to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss cooperation after his historic summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, a media report said Tuesday.

Citing sources close to the matter, Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported that Kim may travel to Beijing by plane as early as Tuesday. It added that relevant security measures were seen being made in the Chinese capital.

Aviation sources said that Air Koryo's An-148 airplane was spotted early in the morning taking off in Pyongyang and landing at Beijing's Capital International Airport at about 9:30 a.m.. It has not been confirmed whether Kim is on board.

A separate North Korean freight plane landed at the airport at about 8:40 a.m. It is said to be the same plane used in carrying luggage and other necessary equipment for Kim's trip to Singapore for his summit with Trump last week.

"I understand that those planes were specially arranged to fly from Pyongyang to Beijing," a source said. "It appears that a highest-level official has arrived."

Security has been tightened around the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, with additional police officers deployed, spawning speculation that a high-ranking foreign official's visit might be imminent.

Neither China nor North Korea has confirmed Kim's possible trip to China.

If Kim visits Beijing, it would be the third of its kind this year alone following the ones in March and May when he met Xi.

It would also follow Kim's summit meeting with Trump in Singapore on June 12 in which Kim affirmed his commitment to complete denuclearization in return for security guarantees and a new relationship with the U.S.

The Japanese newspaper said that Kim would use the trip to share the details on the summit and discuss bilateral cooperation with China going forward.

An official of Seoul's unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, told reporters that the government is closely watching relevant situations while keeping the possibility of Kim's travel to China open.
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