China Sends Highest Ranking Official to Pyongyang in Five Years

China is sending its highest-level delegation to North Korea in nearly five years for a trip starting Thursday that comes as Pyongyang has drawn closer to Russia.

Zhao Leji, China’s No. 3 official, will head the delegation for a “goodwill visit” at the invitation of Pyongyang, the official Korean Central News Agency said. The delegation will be in North Korea until Saturday, China’s Foreign Ministry said.