金正恩派特使去中国

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent a senior military official as a special envoy to China, at a time of strained relations between the two traditional allies.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Choe Ryong Hae, the director of the General Political Bureau of the North Korean army, left Pyongyang for China Wednesday along with a government delegation. No details about the purpose of the trip were given.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said Beijing plans to discuss the situation on the Korean peninsula and "issues of common concern" with Choe.
It is believed to be one of the highest-level delegations North Korea has sent to Beijing since Mr. Kim took over leadership of the country following the death of his father in late 2011.

China has long been North Korea's main ally and primary economic lifeline. But there are signs that the new leadership in Beijing is growing impatient with the North.

The brief KCNA report detailing Choe's visit also indicated that North Korea has again reshuffled the top ranks of its military. The report named Kim Kyok Sik, a hawkish general, as the North's new military chief.朝鲜领导人金正恩派遣一名高层军方官员作为特使前往中国，目前这两个传统盟友之间的关系处于紧张状态。

朝鲜官方的朝中社说，朝鲜人民军总政治局局长崔龙海星期三率领一个政府代表团离开平壤前往中国。朝中社的报道没有透露有关这次访问目的的任何细节。

中国外交部发言人洪磊说， 北京将跟崔龙海讨论朝鲜半岛的局势以及其他“共同关注”的问题。

自金正恩在他父亲2011年去世后接掌领导权以来，据信这是朝鲜派往北京的最高级别代表团之一。

中国长期以来一直是朝鲜的主要盟友和经济支柱。但有迹象显示，北京新领导层对朝鲜渐渐失去耐心。