South Korea's top office has weighed on the North Korean leader's trip to China, expressing hopes the visit will contribute to the denuclearization of the Peninsula and lead to the establishment of lasting peace.

"We hope the exchanges between the two Koreas,... between Pyeongyang and Beijing,... and between Pyeongyang and Washington... will create a virtuous circle,... so that progress in each of these exchanges will lead to progress in the others. In particular, we hope that Chairman Kim Jong-un's fourth visit to China will serve as a stepping stone to a second North Korea-U.S. summit."

The spokesperson added Seoul has been in close contact with North Korea and China regarding Kim's visit,... but did not specify exactly when the South Korean government was notified of the trip.
Asked whether the two Koreas are currently pursuing any exchanges of special envoys or high-level talks, the official said currently there are no such plans.