Beijing's role in peninsula process unvaryingly positive

Kim Jong-un spent his 35th birthday in Beijing. It was the Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader's first trip abroad in 2019, and he is the first foreign leader Chinese President Xi Jinping has received this year.

In an unprecedented break from Kim's previous visits - this was his fourth to China in 10 months - both the DPRK and China confirmed the visit as it took place.

But even before any additional official information has been received, there has been plenty of wondering, guessing and speculating regarding Kim's latest China visit. Not only because United States President Donald Trump just declared his second summit meeting with Kim may materialize soon, but also because the DPRK leader just threatened to pursue a "new path" should the US fail to respond to his country's gestures of goodwill. And because the trip coincided with a critical round of China-US trade negotiations in Beijing. No wonder 9 of the 10 questions the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman took on Tuesday were about Kim's visit.