With China's northeastern city of Dalian under heavier control than ever,... local sources believe North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could be making a visit.
If true, this would be Kim's second visit to China is less than two months.
What for and why now?
Oh Jung-hee has more.
Is North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visiting China again?
According to Tokyo-based Kyodo News Agency,... a North Korean Air Koryo airplane arrived in China's northeastern city of Dalian on Tuesday.
That's... a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping also arrived in the city... to attend Tuesday's sea trial of Beijing's first Chinese-built aircraft carrier.
Local airports and train stations have been under strict control -- similar to when Kim Jong-un visited China late March.
Also under heavy security is Dalian's island of Bangchuidao -- where top officials from Pyongyang and Beijing met secretly in the past.

Should the visiting figure be North Korean leader Kim Jong-un himself, then this would be his second visit to China in less than two months,... and would come before the Chinese President makes a return visit to Pyongyang.
The possible visit comes amid a tug-of-war between Pyongyang and Washington... over fine-tuning the details of their first-ever summit... as well as Washington's emphasis on PVID and Pyongyang's backlash.

"Pyongyang could be taking out its 'Beijing card' as some things seem to be difficult to iron out with the U.S. in denuclearization talks. Also, China could have invited North Korea to alleviate its concerns over being bypassed. If the end of the Korean War is declared only by the two Koreas and the U.S., Beijing's influence on Pyongyang will decrease... as it will if Pyongyang moves to normalize relations with Washington."

But the figure in China may not be Kim Jong-un,... but rather another senior North Korean like his sister Kim Yo-jong or the regime's ceremonial leader Kim Yong-nam.
Kim could be aware that him visiting China and bringing in Beijing to the current three-party structure... wouldn't work to his advantage at the upcoming talks with Washington, or in relations with South Korea.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.