Mick Hartley

The Dear Leader is off on his travels:

The North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is visiting China to better understand the country's economic development, the South Korean government has said.

A spokesman for South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak said the Chinese prime minster had briefed Mr Lee on the trip over the weekend.

Kim Jong-il reportedly arrived in China on Friday morning and is believed to be still touring the country.

This kind of openness about a visit by the North Korean leader is rare.

Neither North Korea nor China usually confirms Mr Kim's trips until he's returned to Pyongyang.

There has been a great deal of speculation about why Kim Jong-il might be touring his giant neighbour – his third visit there in a year.

According to a spokesman from the South Korean president's office, it is an educational trip – the result of an invitation from Beijing to "understand the development of China, and be able to use it" for their own development back home.

North Korea's economy relies on aid and the country says its facing severe food shortages this year.

Of those two possibilities – to learn from the Chinese about economic development, or to get more aid – I think we can be fairly sure which is the real reason. Kim has made it clear enough in the past that he has no interest in developing the economy along Chinese lines. Any moves to open up markets have been ruthlessly crushed. So…it's aid. Of course. The rest is window-dressing.

More details from the Chosun Ilbo:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, currently on his seventh visit to China, has been on an unprecedentedly busy schedule. He normally stays one night in each city he visits, but this time, he travelled 3,000 km for three days and two nights on his special armored train. 

On Sunday he arrived in Yangzhou, the hometown of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin who is still a powerful figure behind the scenes. Kim is believed to have met with Jiang there and asked for Chinese aid, economic cooperation and support for the succession of his son Jong-un.

The reason Kim manages such long trips is that the train is lavishly equipped. It has a conference room, an audience chamber and luxurious bedrooms. According to South Korean and U.S. intelligence, satellite phone connections and flat-screen TVs are installed so that the North Korean leader can be briefed and issue orders. Four carriages in the 20-carriage train are allotted for medical staff and equipment. 

Kim is believed to suffer from chronic renal failure, so the train also reportedly has dialysis equipment. A South Korean government official said, "No matter how comfortable the train may be, a long train journey isn’t easy for a man over 70. It seems that one of the objectives of this trip is to demonstrate that he is fit."

While Kim briefly stopped at hotels in Mudanjiang and Changchun on Friday and Saturday, an ambulance was seen entering the hotel, suggesting his health is constantly being monitored. 

In Yangzhou, police were everywhere. Public access to the state guest house in Yangzhou along the shore of touristy Shouxi, or Slender West Lake, was banned. On Saturday, Kim visited the Changchun-based First Automobile Works Group, one of the top two carmakers in China alongside Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. There are rumors that FAW Group will invest in the Rajin-Sonbong special economic zone in North Korea. A Hongqi sedan, FAW's top brand, was given to Kim as a gift.

No hint of any conditions attached to this Chinese generosity, or criticism of recent tensions with South Korea caused by the Cheonan sinking or the shelling of Yeonpyeong island. Whatever Kim's motives may be, apart from getting aid and demonstrating his health, the Chinese are certainly making it clear that the Dear Leader continues to have their full support.

What of the North Koreans themselves?

Interestingly, while news about Kim Jong Il is generally met with total indifference by the average person in North Korea, there is much more interest in this most recent visit. In particular, sources say that the people hope that it might bring large-scale economic assistance.

The Pyongyang source explained, “People who had no interest in his trips before, now seem to be responding with more interest. Why this is I don’t know, but if you listen to them; they have an interest in the purpose of the trip.”

The Yangkang Province source agreed, saying, “People are anticipating much from China; jangmadang traders whisper that it would be good if (Kim Jong Il) could see many things and then we could reform and open like China, while other people hope they’ll give us lots of support, rice or whatever.”

However, on the other hand, the Musan source commented, “People who hear the trip rumor just ask what the reason is this time, and wonder what stuff he will give them and what stuff, which we won’t be able to eat, he will bring back with him. Their reactions are not good.”