BEIJING: China's premier will pay an official visit to North Korea this week, Beijing said on Tuesday (Oct 7), announcing the high-level diplomatic engagement to the isolated nuclear state. Despite periods of strained ties between China and North Korea over Pyongyang's nuclear programme, the neighbours have maintained a close relationship in recent years. Premier Li Qiang "will lead a party and government delegation to the DPRK ... and pay an official goodwill visit from Oct 9 to 11", a foreign