North Korea on Sunday confirmed leader Kim Jong-un's surprise visit to China the previous day, a trip that highlights renewed efforts by Pyongyang and Beijing to strengthen bilateral ties. On Saturday, South Korean government sources said Kim had visited the Chinese border city of Dandong, where he met with Wang Huning, China's fourth-highest-ranking official and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. According to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday, Kim visited Dandong the previous day, where he paid tribute at a war memorial to Chinese soldiers who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War. Kim said North Korea would continue to uphold the two countries' "invincible friendship forged in blood," KCNA reported. Kim also attended a banquet hosted by Wang at the direction of Chinese President Xi Jinping and visited a bus factory in Dandong before returning home via the newly-opened bridge over the Amnok River, also known as Yalu River, KCNA said. Saturday's visit marked Kim's first known trip to China since September 2025, wh