By Yi Whan-woo
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a border region between North Korea and China in what was seen as move to bolster economic cooperation with Beijing, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
It said Kim visited a reed farm in Sindo County in North Pyongan Province last week. This was Kim's first inspection of economic-related facilities since his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore, June 12 and his third meeting with the Chinese President in Beijing, from June 19 to 20.
China has joined the U.S.-led economic sanctions against the North over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic programs.
Sindo County includes Hwangkumpyong, an island in the Yalu River near the Sinuiju-Dandong border where the North and China agreed in 2011 to develop a special economic zone, but did not do so.
The KCNA said Kim has ordered that the area become a large-scale production center for reed and chemical fiber materials.
His entourage included Hwang Pyong-so, who was dismissed from the post of top military official, and Kim Song-nam, first vice director of the international department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.