China's Xi to visit N.Korea next year, says South Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping intends to visit North Korea next year after receiving an invite from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korea said in a statement from its presidential office on Saturday.

Xi told South Korean president Moon Jae-in that he would "make time" to visit North Korea next year, Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesman for South Korea's presidential office, said at a briefing after a bilateral meeting between Xi and Moon.

The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea. South Korea's presidential office issued a transcript of the briefing in Port Moresby.

The spokesman also said that Xi was willing to come to South Korea next year at a convenient time.