By Park Si-soo

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Pyongyang early next month at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to attend the celebrations of the reclusive state's 70th founding anniversary, Singapore's Straits Times reported on Saturday, citing unidentified sources.

If it happens, it will be the Chinese leader's first visit to the North Korean capital since he took power in 2012. Kim is also set to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang in September, although the exact date has not been decided yet.

The newspaper didn't specify where it obtained the information and the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to Reuters.

North Korea's founding celebrations are set to take place on Sept. 9. The Straits Times reported that Xi's visit could still be subject to change.

China is the North's most important trading partner and Kim has visited China three times so far this year during which he has engaged in talks with Xi on improving cooperation between the two countries and discussed economic reforms.

The United States has stepped up sanctions on North Korea to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. This week, the United States imposed sanctions on Chinese firms for exporting alcohol and cigarettes to North Korea in breach of those sanctions.

（作者：汽车配件）