BEIJING (Washington Post) -- A special train carrying Kim Jong Il arrived in China early Monday for a much-anticipated visit by the North Korean leader. Kim is expected to appeal to China for economic aid and, in return, perhaps agree to return to the stalled six-party nuclear talks.

The visit is taking place at a time of heightened tension between Pyongyang and South Korea, a key U.S. ally. A deepening investigation into the sinking of a South Korean warship in late March has prompted suspicion that North Korea was the perpetrator of the attack.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that the 17-car train arrived just before dawn, under heavy security, at the Chinese border city of Dandong, just across the Yalu River from North Korea. Reports noted that regular passenger trains from North Korea have four or five cars and always arrive in the afternoon.
China remains North Korea's most significant benefactor and ally, and Kim has turned to China for help in the past. North Korea's economic situation is thought to have deteriorated significantly since its botched currency revaluation in November, which wiped out personal savings and triggered steep price increases, causing rare protests. The top finance official for the country's ruling Workers' Party was reportedly fired as a result. North Korea's food situation is also thought to be especially dire this spring, before the year's crops have matured.
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