Note: The following is a transcript from yesterday’s Foreign Affairs Press Briefing
Q: According to South Korean media reports, North Korean Workers Party General Secretary Kim Jung-Il is in China. Can you confirm that?
Kong Quan, Foreign Affairs Spokesman: The whole world is focused on the problems relating to the six party talks and the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. China has played in important role in trying to bring the six sides to the negotiating table. All sides must do their utmost to overcome difficulties.
Q: So is he in China then?
KQ: I have received no such information.
Q: So, if he is in China, what would he be talking about? Would it include the six-party talks?
KQ: [fingers in ears] La di da. Mmmm…
Q: So, he’s in China then?
KQ: The price of bananas is a very important factor in China’s macroeconomic outlook… Ooh. Look at that over there! [Puff of smoke. KQ disappears through hatch]
Note: the image above does not include Kong Quan, who looks like this. If you don’t know what the above is about, see this Reuters report: China hotel battens down amid Kim visit rumours