North Korea official to visit China to talk economics

PYONGYANG, North Korea – North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un's uncle has left Pyongyang for talks in Beijing that will focus on economic cooperation with the country's most important ally.

North Korean state media said Monday that Jang Song Thaek will meet Tuesday with senior Chinese officials on joint development of the countries' special economic zones.

Kim Jong Un has promoted younger economists to key party positions as part of a stated push to resuscitate an economy that has lagged far behind the rest of Northeast Asia. Much of North Korea remains impoverished outside the capital Pyongyang.

Jang is married to late leader Kim Jong Il's sister, Kim Kyong Hui, and is a vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission. He is seen as a leading economic policy official.