US Defence Secretary says it 'kinda looked like' Kim Jong Un made secret visit to China as North Korea train leaves Beijing

'At present I have no understanding of the situation you mention. If there is news we will release it'

Reports said Mr Kim met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)

The US Defence Secretary has said it “kinda looked like” Kim Jong Un made a secret visit to China, as a North Korean train departed from Beijing.

There had been speculation the North Korean leader made what is believed to have been his first overseas visit since assuming power in 2011, when a North Korean train, accompanied by an unusual level of security, arrived in the Chinese capital.

While neither China or North Korea would officially comment on the visit of the North Korean delegation, Bloomberg News said it had confirmed the 36-year-old leader was the special visitor. On Tuesday, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis appeared to support such a conclusion when he told reporters it “kinda looked like” Mr Kim had visited China.

Yet according to Reuters, he added: “I don’t know.”

As the train departed from Beijing railing station and reports said security at the station and the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse returned to normal, two South Korean newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh, quoted unidentified sources who said Mr Kim had visited for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday afternoon, before leaving for a “third location”, which could be in China.

A convoy was seen leaving the station (Associated Press) (Andrew Buncombe)

Beijing has traditionally been the closest ally of North Korea, but ties have been frayed by North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and China’s backing of UN sanctions in response.

Mr Kim is due to hold separate summits with China’s rivals, South Korea and the United States, and analysts say a visit to Beijing could be preparation for those.

Reuters said a senior US official who follows North Korea closely, said the available evidence suggested Mr Kim had gone to meet Mr Xi, but said it had not been confirmed. Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post also said Mr Kim was on the train that left the Chinese capital.

A Reuters reporter saw a convoy leave Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guest House, where senior foreign leaders often stay, and drive north on Tuesday morning. It was unclear where the convoy was headed.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman deflected a question on whether Mr Kim, his sister or some other senior North Korean was visiting.

“At present I have no understanding of the situation you mention. If there is news we will release it,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular daily briefing.

Following what appeared to be a diplomatic breakthrough that came against the backdrop of the recent Winter Olympics in South Korea, the North Korean leader has agreed to a summit meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in late April.

He has also requested a meeting with Donald Trump, who has said he will take part if North Korea gives certain guarantees ahead of any meeting.