A Chinese art troupe led by Song Tao, the head of the international liaison department of China's ruling party,... is to visit North Korea to perform in the April Spring Friendship Art Festival.
The festival kicks off today and runs through next Tuesday.
North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported... the visit comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to strengthen cultural exchanges... at their summit in Beijing two weeks ago.
Calling China a 'friendly neighboring country,' North Korea says it will "specially greet" the art troupe with "the greatest sincerity."
North Korea invites artists from different countries perform in April every two years... to celebrate the birthday of regime's founder Kim Il-sung.
China didn't send its art troupe to the previous festival in 2016.