North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Ri Kil Song arrived in Beijing on February 28, at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for talks. This is the first such high-level visit since June, after China halted coal imports from North Korea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular briefing that "This visit of the North Korean vice foreign minister is normal diplomatic contact and exchange between China and North Korea."Ri Kil Song is scheduled to meet other Chinese diplomats, including vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin. North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency confirmed the visit.