Chinese vice foreign minister visits North Korean capital

China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin speaks during a news conference in Beijing
China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin speaks during a news conference in Beijing, July 13, 2016. China Daily/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. CHINA OUT. - RTSHNVX (Reuters)

SEOUL (Reuters) - Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin arrived in North Korea on Monday, North Korean state media reported, in the first visit by a high-ranking Chinese official since February, according to Japan's Kyodo news agency. Liu's visit comes as Washington and its allies urge Beijing to agree on tough new United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea after it conducted a fifth nuclear test in September. North Korea's KCNA news agency said Liu led a Chinese delegation attending the third meeting of the DPRK-China border joint committee. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the North's official name. China is North Korea's main ally but is angered by Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)