During the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday, what also came under the spotlight was the role played by Kim's sister.
Kim Yo-jong has become one of the regime's most recognized faces since her visit to South Korea for last year's Winter Olympics.
And video footage from Thursday's summit shows her pull within the regime appears to have strengthened in recent months.
Our Ko Roon-hee reports.

When Kim Jong-un's closest aides greeted the Chinese leader at Pyeongyang Sunan International Airport on Thursday, Kim Yo-jong was at the front of the pack.

The North Korean leader's sister, who also serves as a senior Worker's Party official, was the 7th person in line composed of key figures to shake hands with President Xi.
Standing next to her was high-ranking general Kim Yong-chol.

This is different from Kim Yo-jong's previous role when she was in charge of protocol...usually appearing before the official schedule.
For instance, prior to the North Korea-U.S. summit in February in Hanoi, she took care of preparations at Dong Dang station in Vietnam before Kim Jong-un appeared in front of the crowd.

It's worth noting that she didn't appear in public for around 50 days until recently at a gymnastics and arts performance ... after the talks in Hanoi collapsed, which raised speculation she'd been disciplined or sidelined.

However, her elevated role within the regime's power structure was strongly implied when North Korea expressed condolences to South Korea over the death of former first lady Lee Hee-ho.
Kim Yo-jong came to the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom... along with another senior North Korean official to hand over flowers and messages to South Korean security officials.
She was escorted by bodyguards, confirming her high status, considering that deputy directors generally aren't protected by guards.

As for Kim Yo-jong's replacement in terms of protocol, Hyon Song-wol, who heads the North's Samjiyon Orchestra, was at the airport for President Xi's arrival.
She was spotted with Kim Chang-son, Kim Jong-un's protocol chief.
Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News.