Jang Song Thaek, North Korea’s vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission, center, gets into a car on his arrival in Beijing, China, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012. Jang, Kim Jong Un’s powerful uncle, is visiting China to discuss economic cooperation with North Korea’s most important ally. North Korean state media said Monday that Jang will meet Tuesday with senior Chinese officials on joint development of the countries’ special economic zones. AP/Kyodo News
BEIJING — Chinese state media say Beijing and Pyongyang have agreed to accelerate their joint development of two trade zones in North Korea.
The China Daily newspaper says Kim Jong Un’s powerful uncle Jang Song Thaek formalized the agreements Tuesday in meetings with China’s Ministry of Commerce.
Jang is a vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission. He is seen as a leading economic policy official.
The paper says Jang’s six-day visit could be a prelude to a visit by Kim.
North Korea has lagged far behind the rest of Northeast Asia economically, and much of the nation is impoverished outside the capital Pyongyang.
A separate China Daily editorial said the projects would help North Korea’s battered economy and improve stability on the Korean peninsula.