North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reportedly left North Korea via train Jan. 10, though there are conflicting reports as to his intended destination — Beijing, Shanghai or Russia. That Kim makes an unannounced visit via train to a neighbor is not in itself unusual. However, the timing of the visit raises questions.
See also “Kim Jong Il Tours Shanghai” from the Washington Post and Chinese Foreign Minister spokesman Kong Quan’s statement on Kim’s reported trip. More on this topic, via Google News.