Senior Chinese diplomat Song Tao is set to visit Pyongyang accompanied by a “large-scale” performing squad, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Wednesday.

The delegation is China’s first to the DPRK since a summit between Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping in late March in Beijing: a meeting with saw the Chinese President accept an invitation to visit Pyongyang.

Song Tao, who serves as head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and the art troupe will participate in the 31st April Spring Friendship Art Festival (ASFAF).

State