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COVID-positive Chinese tourist goes on the run in South Korea

By Jen Kwon

January 4, 2023 / 8:49 AM EST / CBS News

Seoul  — When China suddenly lifted its draconian COVID-19 restrictions last month, permitting residents to travel again , the number of Chinese tourists flying into South Korea and other popular vacation destinations in the region surged. Concern over high infection rates in China and a lack of clear data from Beijing about its epidemic saw Seoul and other capitals quickly impose new restrictions, demanding once again that Chinese travelers show a recent negative COVID test.

On Wednesday, South Korean authorities were looking for a 41-year-old Chinese man who went on the run after flying in the previous day, testing positive and being taken to a quarantine facility.

The man arrived Tuesday at Incheon International Airport, outside Seoul, and then tested positive for the coronavirus, which is once again sweeping across China . He and other COVID-positive patients from the airport were driven to a hotel quarantine facility on Yeongjong Island, near the airport.

Soon after arrival, however, around 10 p.m. local time, he ran off the bus, dodging quarantine. Police found video from a security camera that shows him visiting a grocery store in the early hours of Wednesday, and it's assumed that he may have left the business in a taxi, but there has been no confirmed trace of him since. 

The man's motive for going on the lam wasn't clear. Chinese nationals placed in quarantine in South Korea are charged about $8 for their first PCR test and $150 per day spent in a quarantine facility, plus any further medical expenses as they don't typically have South Korean health insurance coverage.

South Korea's tourism industry has long welcomed Chinese travelers, as they're often big spenders.  

During a Wednesday briefing by the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency, officials said that among 281 passengers from China who were tested at Incheon airport the previous day, 73 were confirmed to have COVID, a 26% positivity rate.

From January 2, all passengers arriving from China on planes or ships must take a PCR test, and from the 5the, they will be required to show a negative PCR test result from within 48 hours, or a rapid test result no more than 24 hours old before boarding flights to South Korea. Another PCR test is required upon arrival.  

South Korean officials are now considering a halt to issuing short-term travel visas at Korean consulates in China.

Online, many South Koreans are urging officials to quickly locate the runaway COVID patient and ban him from ever reentering the country.  

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• South Korea
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How to Plan a Trip to China and South Korea

Planning a trip to China and South Korea could be both thrilling and daunting as it involves navigating a wealth of options and logistics. These challenges sometimes make the prospect of exploring these fascinating destinations feel a bit overwhelming. However, with the right guidance and preparation, you could plan a smooth and splendid adventure.

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• How Long to Spend

Itinerary Suggestions

• How to Travel between China and South Korea

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How long to spend in china and south korea.

A typical trip to China and South Korea usually takes 2–3 weeks , with 1–2 weeks in China and 1 week in South Korea. The vastness of China means that you have more to explore there.

In China, a 1-week itinerary allows you to explore the classic route , including Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai. This is the most popular choice for first-time visitors to China. In these three cities, you would gain insights into Chinese culture, history, and modernity while admiring the famous landmarks.

If you have an additional week, you could delve deeper into the diversity of China . If you love nature, you could visit Zhangjiajie or Huangshan. If you want to see adorable pandas up close, head to Chengdu. If you wish to experience Chinese rural life and stunning landscapes, Guilin is a great option.

In South Korea, 1 week is sufficient to explore the classic route , including Seoul, Gyeongju, and Busan. These cities would meet your needs for experiencing Korean culture, history, food, and entertainment. If you have extra time, you could allocate 2–3 more days to explore Jeju Island for its magnificent natural scenery.

We have provided you with two itinerary suggestions, one is a more extensive 3-week itinerary and the other is a 2-week essence itinerary.

1. A 3-Week Itinerary in China and South Korea

• Days 1‒3: Seoul with nearby cities (palaces, street walking, folk villages, markets...)
• Day 4: Gyeongju (historical sites)
• Days 5‒6: Busan (temples, beaches, markets...)
• Day 7: Fly to Beijing
• Days 8‒11: Beijing (the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, hutongs...)
• Days 12‒13: Xi'an (the Terracotta Army, a food tour...)
• Days 14‒15: Zhangjiajie (Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the glass bridge)
• Days 16‒19: Guilin (a cruise, cycling, bamboo rafting...)
• Day 20: Shanghai (the Bund and some free time)
• Day 21: Departure

If you are visiting China and Korea for the first time and want to gain a deeper understanding of the cultures of both countries, you could refer to this itinerary.

This three-week itinerary not only includes iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City but also provides a more in-depth insight into the cultures of Korea and China.

For instance, you could visit the must-see Changdeokgung Palace in South Korea, the last palace of the Joseon Dynasty, where you could even try on traditional Hanbok clothing. You could also explore traditional Korean houses and learn about their folk culture.

In China, to better understand and engage with the authentic culture, we could arrange a home visit for you, where you can learn to write Chinese or paint Peking Opera facial masks, learn about the life philosophy of Beijing people, and see the traditional residential architecture of Beijing ( hutongs ).

2. 2-Week China and South Korea Itinerary

• Days 1‒4: Beijing
• Days 5‒6: Xi'an
• Day 7: Shanghai
• Day 8: Fly to South Korea
• Days 9‒10: Seoul
• Days 11‒13: Jeju Island
• Day 14: Back to Seoul for departure

While this itinerary is relatively short, you could still have some in-depth cultural or culinary experiences that showcase the local essence.

In the Beijing itinerary, in addition to visiting classic landmarks, if you want to know more about the local lifestyle or traditional culture, we could arrange a walking tour of Beijing's old neighborhoods. Guided by our local experts, you would explore local communities, markets, and parks that are off the beaten path, providing you with the best insight into the daily lives of the people of Beijing.

During your stay in South Korea, the itinerary would include a visit to Jeju Island. If you enjoy hiking, climb Mount Halla, and don't miss the sunrise at Sunrise Peak (Seongsan Ilchulbong). You could also explore Dongmun Market and savor a variety of local delicacies.

We Can Tailor-Make Your Itinerary

The itineraries above are just two options for reference. We offer totally personalized tour services . Contact us to share your specific preferences and requirements, and we would tailor a customized itinerary that suits your needs.

How to Travel Between China and South Korea

Flying is the most convenient and quick way. The main cities that usually link the two countries are Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong in China and Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island in South Korea.

The journey is about 1 to 2½ hours. We would manage the transportation between China and South Korea and also the domestic transfers in each country.

When planning a trip to China and South Korea, we suggest starting with a visit to South Korea before heading to China. This suggestion is rooted in the idea that South Korea offers a relatively relaxed cultural exploration, while China provides a deeper cultural experience. This sequence of travel allows you to gradually delve into East Asian culture and gain a more nuanced understanding of its cultural development.

Private touring in China costs about US$220–350 per day per person, and the cost in South Korea is about US$400–500 per day per person, including 4- or 5-star hotels, flights/train journeys within China and South Korea, tickets for attractions, private cars, and private guides.

We recommend booking 3 months in advance to ensure that you have more options and opportunities for comparison.

When booking with us, you'll receive a 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights if you cancel up to 3 weeks before departure (see more details here ).

Best Times to Visit China and South Korea

China and South Korea share similar weather conditions. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times to visit both of them with warm-to-cool weather and less rainfall.

For a less-crowded month among the best times, you could choose from March, April, September, and November.

Although summer (June to August) is the rainy season, it is the peak season for traveling because of schools' summer vacations (Booking 3 months in advance is recommended). The rainy season won't be a big activity-affecting factor for a well-prepared and flexible journey.

Winter also has its charms. Both China and South Korea have beautiful snow scenes, such as in Harbin and Jeju Island. If you want something a little different in winter, go to southern areas in China, such as Yunnan, Hainan, and Hong Kong. They offer sunny days with warm and active outdoor sports.

The Christmas and New Year holidays would see an increase in travelers. Be sure to book 3 months in advance.

For South Korea : South Korea requires visitors from visa-exempted countries to obtain a K-ETA (Korean Electronic Travel Authorization) before their trip to South Korea.

But to encourage tourism, from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, a K-ETA is not required for 27 countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and Singapore, for short-term business or tourism purposes.

For China : Normally, a tourist visa (L visa) is needed to visit China. We recommend that you apply for the visa 1 or 2 months before the intended travel date. You could refer to the requirements for visa applications here .

Tour China and South Korea with Us

All of our tours can be adjusted or customized based on your requirements. Just contact us if you have a good idea about what you want to do or if you need some help to start planning.

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China to resume visas for South Koreans after COVID row

Move comes after Seoul last week scrapped COVID-related travel restrictions for arrivals from China.

China will resume short-term visas for travellers from South Korea after Seoul scrapped pandemic-related travel restrictions that angered Beijing.

China will begin processing short-term visas for South Koreans for “business, transit and other private affairs” from Saturday, the Chinese embassy in Seoul said in a post on its official WeChat account on Wednesday.

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China stopped issuing short-term visas to South Koreans in January after Seoul slapped COVID restrictions on travellers from China amid concerns Beijing’s sudden dismantling of its controversial “zero-COVID” policy could spawn new coronavirus variants.

The South Korean government began issuing visas last week amid reports China’s wave of COVID infections had peaked, after previously indicating it would restrict visas until the end of February.

China’s foreign ministry at the time called South Korea’s move a “step in the right direction” to facilitate people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

More than a dozen countries including Japan, South Korea and the United States introduced travel restrictions on arrivals from China after Beijing scrapped lockdowns, mass testing and quarantine following rare mass protests late last year.

Beijing condemned the curbs as discriminatory and lacking in scientific basis. Some health experts also questioned the need for the curbs given the spread of the virus elsewhere and the wide availability of vaccines.

South Korea is one of China’s top sources of tourism, with more than 4 million South Korean visitors to the country in 2018. Chinese nationals are the biggest group of tourists in South Korea, accounting for more than one-third of the 17.5 million arrivals in 2019.

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Guide to Application for Chinese Visas

（ Updated 1 4 th   Mar . 202 3 ）

From the 1 5 th of March  202 3 , the visa requirements for visits to  China will be adjusted according to the latest notice from the Chinese Embass y  and Consulates in South Korea. The updated processing procedures and material requirements are as follows :

1. Please fill out your visa application form and make a reservation online through https://www.visaforchina.org . Please DON’T forget to  print out your visa application form as well as the reservation form in advance before submitting your application at the scheduled time .

2.  All Visa applicants must  submit the application documents  in person  and have their fingerprints collected.

Please be noted that fingerprint collection is not required for:  

a. Children under 14 years old or adults over 70 years old.

b. Diplomatic Passport Holders, diplomatic officials or courtesy visa applicants.

c. Applicants who have had fingerprints collected and have obtained Chinese visa issued by the same Chinese Embassy, Consulates, or the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers with the same passports within 5 years.

d. Applicants whose ten fingers are all  mutilated or whose fingerprints are not able to be collected.

Applicants  w ho don’t require fingerprint collection could entrust a third party to submit the application.

3.  D ocuments  for applying:

a.  Visa Application Form and Reservation Form.

b. Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with at least 2 pieces of blank visa page s . A photocopy of the passport page that contains your photo, personal information, and signature.

c.  A  recent immigration certificate or entry confirmation slip  or a valid Korean alien registration card or a Korean visa (third-country citizens only)

d.  Previous   Chinese passport or previous   Chinese visa (suitable for Chinese nationality, and later joined foreign nationality) .

e. Specific document s for different visa categories:

f.  To apply for an emergency humanitarian visa, such as going to China for a funeral or visiting a critically unwell  patient, the deceased’s or patient’s identity document (such as a Chinese ID card or a foreigner passport, etc.), a death certificate  of the deceased  or a medical certificate a critical illness notice  of the patient issued by the hospital, relatives Proof of relationship  and other documents will be required for submission .

4. All Visa Categories mentioned above shall be applied via the Chin ese  Visa Application Service Center. You may contact our center for the specific procedures and requirements for issuing visa.

About the Chin ese  Visa Application Service Center:

Busan Chinese Visa Application Service Center

Address ： 5thFloor, C1 Haeundae I ’ PARK, 38 Marine City 2-ro Haeundae, Busan, the Republic of Korea.

Call: 051-9200800

Fax ： 051-920-0866

E-mail: [email protected]

5 . Please contact the Chinese embassy or consulates  in Korea for diplomatic and public service visas.

14 th   Mar. 2023

Chinese visa application service center

Business Hours: Monday - Friday

Visa application: 9:00-15:00

Payment and collection: 13:00-15:00

NOTICE: Our visa counter will accept rush(express/urgent) service(3rd working day/2nd working day) application until 11:30.

Location： 5 th Floor, C1 Haeundae I’PARK , 38 Marine City 2-ro Haeundae, Busan, the Republic of Korea

Call：051-920-0800 ( Please leave your name and contact number by e-mail when the phone call cannot be connected )

Fax：051-920-0866

Email： [email protected]

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China is crushing South Korea's tourism industry

Pro tip for countries looking to keep their tourism numbers up: Don't annoy China.

That's the lesson South Korea is learning the hard way. The country suffered a 40% plunge in Chinese visitors last month, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

Chinese tour groups have been canceling trips because of anger over the deployment of a controversial U.S.-built missile defense system in South Korea. Chinese authorities are believed to have told travel agencies last month to stop selling trips to South Korea.

The outlook is bleak, too. Bookings for stays of four to eight nights by Chinese visitors are down 28% in the second quarter of 2017 compared with a year earlier, according to ForwardKeys, a provider of data on the travel industry.

Related: South Korean company to China: Don't blame us for THAAD missiles

China has vigorously opposed the stationing of the THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea, complaining that it threatens security and fuels tensions in the region. The South Korean government says the system is designed to reduce the threat from North Korean missiles.

South Korean businesses that rely on foreign tourists are feeling the chill. Chinese citizens accounted for eight million of the roughly 17 million people who visited South Korea last year and are big spenders.

"There's been a big reduction in the number of groups of Chinese tourists in Seoul since the THAAD missile crisis," said Kil Ki-yon, the director of Seoul Tiger Bus, a company that takes Chinese visitors on tours of the city.

Related: South Korea's economy difficulties

South Korean conglomerate Lotte said its duty free stores have taken a huge hit, too.

Sales to Chinese customers between mid-March and mid-April plunged 40% from a year earlier, according to a spokesman for the group. Chinese tourists tend to account for as much as 80% of duty free sales, he added.

The difficulties come at a time when outbound travel by China's burgeoning middle class is surging. The Chinese spent $261 billion traveling abroad last year, according to the World Tourism Organization, a 12% increase compared with the previous year.

ForwardKeys said Southeast Asian countries are the most likely to benefit from South Korea's problems with China.

Related: Parts of controversial US anti-missile system moved to South Korean site

The tensions between Beijing and Seoul over THAAD show little sign of easing. South Korea is pushing ahead with the system, parts of which have now arrived at the planned deployment site, the South Korean Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated its opposition, warning that "China will firmly take necessary measures to safeguard its own interests."

-- Sol Han, Hyunsoo Woo and Steven Jiang contributed to this report.

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S. Korea expects boost from Chinese tourists

The resumption of Chinese group tours will boost South Korea's economy, experts say, adding that tourism and cultural exchanges can also help improve bilateral relations.

China recently announced a third round of resumed outbound group tours to 78 countries and regions, including South Korea.

On Thursday, the first Chinese cruise ship since 2017 arrived at South Korea's largest resort island of Jeju. The Shanghai Blue Dream Star carried 668 Chinese tourists, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Suh Yong-gu, marketing professor in Sookmyung Business School at Sookmyung Women's University in South Korea, said China resuming group tours would be "positive" for South Korea's economy.

The Bank of Korea said it projects that nearly 2.2 million Chinese tourists will visit South Korea from July to December. In the fourth quarter, the number is expected to reach 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

In the first half of this year, about 564,000 Chinese tourists visited South Korea. This was equivalent to just 19.5 percent of the 2.8 million recorded in the first half of 2019, Korea Tourism Organization said.

"The resumption of Chinese group tours to South Korea is no doubt very good news," said An Yong-ju, a professor of global leisure and tourism at Sun Moon University, noting that tourism is more than the mobility of people because all activities related to it will have a strong impact on the economy.

To sustain the momentum, An said the South Korean government needs to put in more effort since it has the biggest role to play in attracting more Chinese tourists to the country.

China was the first country to reach 6 million tourist visits to South Korea and Chinese travelers accounted for nearly half of total foreign tourists in 2014.

But arrivals dropped significantly after that. An said the COVID-19 pandemic and diplomatic tensions after the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile system in South Korea in 2017 contributed to the drop in arrivals.

Peak in 2019

As South Korea saw a record high of 17.5 million international arrivals in 2019, An said the number could have easily surpassed 20 million if Seoul had formed better relations with Beijing.

Besides Jeju, Incheon, Busan and Mokpo are all ramping up efforts to attract Chinese tourists by introducing targeted products and services, arranging overseas promotional events, as well as cooperating with major Chinese travel agencies.

Duty free chains like Shinsegae, which welcomed the first Chinese tour group of 31 people on Aug 26, are working to improve Chinese language services and offering promotional campaigns with Chinese digital payment platform WeChat Pay.

"We expect to see more Chinese group tourists from October when there is (China's) National Day holiday," Park Sang-sun, from the overseas sales department of Shinsegae Duty Free, said.

South Korea seeks Chinese national missing from COVID quarantine

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Number of south korean visitors soars 908% in jan..

Since the full resumption of China's inbound tourism in 2023, the number of overseas tourists visiting China has grown rapidly. Analysts said the boom reflected China's recently implemented measures that helped simplify procedures for overseas tourists, including easing visa requirements, as well as improved travel products, which shows that China continues to accelerate its opening-up to the outside world.

As one of the latest examples, the number of South Korean tourists traveling to China in January exceeded 140,000, up 908 percent year-on-year, China Media Group (CMG) reported on Monday.

A retiree surnamed Lee from South Korea's Gimhae city told the Global Times on Monday that she is planning to travel to Zhangjiajie in Central China's Hunan Province and Yunnan Province in Southwest China with her husband, children and in-laws.

Lee said that her family is hesitating about whether to go with a tour group or a free tour, noting that there are many group tours to Zhangjiajie offered by South Korean travel agencies.

South Korea's major travel agencies are actively planning tourism products for China. Besides Zhangjiajie, which is a traditional popular destination among South Korean tourists, travel packages to the island province of Hainan have attracted particular attention after the recent visa-free entry policy in South China's Hainan, according to CMG.

To cope with personnel exchanges between China and South Korea and meet the travel demand of South Koreans, various Korean airlines have been resuming previously suspended routes, including Incheon to Zhengzhou in Central China's Henan Province, and Busan to Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

As of December, the number of weekly flights between China and South Korea was 879, which was 77 percent of the pre-epidemic level in 2019, Korean Air told the Global Times on Monday.

The South Korean airline itself has resumed operations on 20 routes with 16 cities in the Chinese mainland, with 156 weekly flights - about 70 percent of the pre-epidemic level, Korean Air said.

"China has always been our key market, and we will resume serving the cities of Zhengzhou and Zhangjiajie as soon as possible, and increase flight frequencies on some routes. We predict that route resumptions between China and Korea will be active in 2024," Korean Air said.

China Tourism Academy said in a recent report that it remains optimistic about China's inbound tourism market, which is expected to recover to 50 percent of that in 2019 - the pre-pandemic level.

Such a recovery emerged during the recent Spring Festival holidays, with about 3.23 million inbound tourist trips made, close to the level of the same period in 2019, according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The number of tickets booked for inbound tourism during the Spring Festival break increased by more than 10 times compared with 2019 on domestic online travel platform Trip.com.

The main source countries were Japan, the US, South Korea, Australia, the UK, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada, Thailand and Germany, according to a report sent from Trip.com to the Global Times.

The effect of China's visa-free policy has been evident, as the number of tourists from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries that were newly exempted from travel visas has increased significantly. The total number of inbound travel bookings from these countries during the Spring Festival holidays doubled compared with the same period in 2019, said Trip.com.

The significant progress in visa facilitation will continue to instill confidence in Chinese and overseas tourists, Yang Jinsong, director of the institute of international tourism development and associate researcher at the China Tourism Academy (CTA), told the Global Times.

"China should continue to optimize the inbound tourism policy by expanding the scope of visa-free countries, simplifying visa procedures, improving visa application efficiency, and providing a more convenient and friendly entry environment for overseas tourists," Yang said.

Yang also called for strengthened tourism cooperation with other countries.

However, analysts noted that inbound tourism is still in a gradual recovery after the three-year closure due to the pandemic. The global tourism supply chain needs to be repaired.

In 2019, China's travel agencies handled 18.3 million inbound tourist arrivals, with foreigners spending $77.1 billion, according to statistics from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

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South Korean visitors to China soar 908% in Jan

China Tourism Academy expected China's inbound travel to recover to 50 percent of that in 2019.

Since the full resumption of China's inbound tourism in 2023, the number of overseas tourists visiting China has grown rapidly. The number of South Korean tourists traveling to China in January exceeded 140,000, up 908 percent year-on-year, China Media Group (CMG) reported on Monday.

China Tourism Academy said in a recent report that it remains optimistic about China's inbound tourism market, which is expected to recover to 50 percent of that in 2019 - the pre-pandemic level.

The number of tickets booked for inbound tourism during the Spring Festival break increased by more than 10 times compared with 2019 on domestic online travel platform Trip.com.

The main source countries were Japan, the US, South Korea, Australia, the UK, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada, Thailand and Germany, according to a report sent from Trip.com to the Global Times.

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Tu Lei co-leads the Global Times biz desk. She also covers topics on civil aviation and logistics.

An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 22, 2024 shows scenery of the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park after snowfall in central China's Hunan Province.(Photo: Xinhua)

Chinese made 474m domestic trips during Spring Festival holidays, spending 632.6b yuan: Ministry of Culture and Tourism

China witnessed explosive growth in outbound tourism during this year's Spring Festival holidays (February 10-17), notably surpassing the ...

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One of China’s top leaders will lead a delegation to North Korea this week

FILE - Chinese paramilitary policemen build a fence near a concrete marker depicting the North Korean and Chinese national flags with the words “China North Korea Border” at a crossing in the Chinese border town of Tumen in eastern China’s Jilin province on Dec. 8, 2012. Zhao Leji, a top Chinese leader will lead a delegation to North Korea this week, both countries announced Tuesday, April 9, 2024.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

FILE - Zhao Leji attends a session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Friday, March 10, 2023. Zhao, a top Chinese leader will lead a delegation to North Korea this week, both countries announced Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

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BEIJING (AP) — A top Chinese leader will lead a delegation to North Korea this week, both countries announced Tuesday, in what would be the highest-level meeting between the two countries since the pandemic began.

Zhao Leji, who is chairman of the National People’s Congress and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, will visit North Korea from Thursday to Saturday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

No details were released on what was described as a goodwill visit, except that the delegation would attend the opening ceremony for the “China-North Korea Friendship Year.”

“The specific arrangements for the visit are still under negotiation,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

A dispatch from North Korea’s official KCNA news agency also announced the trip.

Zhao is one of the seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the Communist Party’s top leadership body headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Zhao’s visit to North Korea will be the first bilateral exchange involving a Chinese Politburo Standing Committee member since the pandemic started. In 2019, the two countries held a pair of summit meetings , for one of which Xi traveled to Pyongyang.

North Korea and China are expected to hold a number of exchanges to mark the 75th year since they established of diplomatic ties, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been pushing to boost partnerships with China and Russia in a bid to strength his regional footing and join a united front against the United States.

Kim traveled to Russia in September for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin . The U.S., South Korea and others accuse North Korea of supplying conventional weapons for Russia’s war in Ukraine in return for advanced weapons technologies and other support.

China, North Korea’s biggest source of aid, is believed to have long shipped clandestine assistance to help keep afloat its impoverished socialist ally, which it views as a bulwark against U.S. influence on the Korean Peninsula.

“China is key to North Korea’s economy. There is a limit that Russia can do for North Korea economically,” Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha Womans University. “For the short-term assistance, shipments of food or crude oil can be made. But to make its economy grow in the long term, North Korea needs investments and markets. China is the only country that can provide those to North Korea.” ___

Associated Press writer Jiwon Song in Seoul, South Korea contributed to this report.

China leader set to visit North Korea and kick off 'friendship year' in worrying new pact

A top Chinese leader will hold talks with North Korean officials on Thursday, in what will become the highest-level meeting between Beijing and Pyongyang in nearly five years.

Zhao Leiji, the third-highest ranked official of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, will lead a delegation for a "goodwill visit" to North Korea from Thursday to Saturday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The DPRK delegation would attend the opening ceremony of the "China-North Korea Friendship Year," which marks the 75th year since Pyongyang and Beijing established diplomatic ties in 1949.

Details about the three-day visit are still being discussed, except that the delegation reflects the "deep friendship" between both countries and the "great importance" China attaches to their relations.

A spokesperson from North Korea's state media agency KCNA also announced the visit.

READ MORE: NATO chief warns of 'dangerous alliance' of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea

Zhao is regarded as one of the seven most powerful politicians in China, as he sits on the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee - a seven-man decision-making body led by President Xi Jinping himself.

Zhao's visit to North Korea will be the first bilateral exchange involving a high-ranking member of the Politburo since Xi Jinping's state visit to the DPRK in 2019.

It will also be Zhao's first visit to Pyongyang since he became chairman of the National People's Congress, the highest organ of state power of China which is often regarded as a "rubber stamp" legislature for the CCP.

The delegation comes at a time when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been pushing to forge closer ties with China and Russia in a bid to strength his regional footing and join a united front against the United States.

Kim traveled to Russia for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last September.

This meeting also comes amid heightened tensions on the Korea peninsula, as the US and South Korea accuse North Korea of supplying conventional weapons for Russia's war in Ukraine in return for advanced weapons technologies and other support.

China, North Korea's biggest source of aid, is believed to have long shipped clandestine assistance to help keep afloat its impoverished socialist ally, which it views as a bulwark against U.S. influence on the Korean Peninsula.