A Japanese sushi chef who served for more than a decade under the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il returned to Beijing on Tuesday after a visit to Pyongyang. He said nothing to reporters at the airport and it was not known if he had met with the present ruler, Kim Jong Un.
At his departure for North Korea about a month ago, Kenji Fujimoto said he planned to meet with Kim. He also had dinner with Kim for about three hours in Pyongyang in April.
Fujimoto is not the chef's real name but an alias he uses in press appearances.
The chef befriended the younger Kim during his time with Kim Jong Il, who died in December 2011.
Fujimoto reunited with Kim Jong Un in July 2012, when he made his first trip to North Korea after an 11-year absence, at Kim's invitation.
He has spoken about each of the two previous meetings upon returning to Japan.