In this photo provided on April 12, 2024, by the North Korean government, Choe Ryong Hae, right, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, talks with Zhao Leji, left, chairman of the National People’s Congress of China during a reception, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 11, 2024. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
Choe Ryong Hae, left, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, shakes hands with Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress of China and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, as Zhao and other delegates arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
Choe Ryong Hae, center right, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, escorts Zhao Leji, center left, chairman of the National People’s Congress of China and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, as Zhao and other delegates arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
Pyongyang citizens welcome a Chinese delegation headed by Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, as they arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. The banner in the background says, "Warmly welcome the party and government delegation of the People's Republic of China!" (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
In this photo provided on April 12, 2024, by the North Korean government, Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress of China speaks during a welcome reception, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 11, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
Pyongyang citizens welcome a Chinese delegation headed by Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, as they arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
Pyongyang citizens welcome a Chinese delegation headed by Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, as they arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
Zhao Leji, center, chairman of the National People’s Congress and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, waves as Choe Ryong Hae, front right, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, and Pyongyang citizens welcome Zhao and other delegates upon their arrival at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
In this photo provided on April 12, 2024, by the North Korean government, Zhao Leji, center, chairman of the National People’s Congress of China waves, escorted by Choe Ryong Hae, right, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, as Zhao arrived at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 11, 2024. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency.(Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
In this photo provided on April 12, 2024, by the North Korean government, Choe Ryong Hae, front right, vice-chairman of the central committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, shakes hands with Zhao Leji, center left, chairman of the National People’s Congress of China, as Zhao and other delegates arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
An airplane carrying a Chinese delegation headed by Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress of China and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, arrives at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress of China and considered the No. 3 official in the ruling Communist Party, and other delegates arrive at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)