The trip comes in the wake of Moon’s visit to China in December in which he held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. They agreed to resolve the North’s nuclear threat through dialogue and negotiations.

Tensions have eased on the Korean Peninsula since officials of South and North Korea met for the first time in more than two years last week to discuss Pyongyang’s participation in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.

South Korea and China have seen their ties frayed in recent years over the deployment of a US anti-missile system called the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense in the South. They announced a deal in October to normalize bilateral relations. (Yonhap)