N. Korea’s Kim appears to have entered China

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Source: Reuters

Reported trip, first in four years, comes amid escalating tensions with South

North Korea's hardline leader Kim Jong-il appears to have entered China, his isolated state's biggest benefactor, for a rare trip abroad as tensions are running high on the peninsula, reports said Monday.

China has the most influence in curbing the North's military grandstanding and Kim's previous trips to his neighbor have led to steps that have reduced security concerns for the economically vibrant region.

The trip to China would be the first in four years and comes at a time when Seoul is considering ways to respond to a suspected North Korean attack on one of its naval ships. South Korea lost 46 sailors in what could be one of the deadliest strikes since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36906231/ns/world_news-asiapacific/