Chinese delegation to Pyongyang seen as effort to assess stability of Kim's regime

China has sent a delegation to North Korea in what analysts describe as an effort to assess the stability of Kim Jong-un's regime in the wake of his uncle's high-profile execution late last year.

The group led by Xing Haiming, the foreign ministry's deputy director of Asian affairs, arrived late last month. Ties between the two cold war allies - already strained by North Korean weapons tests - have been further complicated by Kim's purging of Jang Song-thaek.

Jang, was accused, among other things, of attempting to sell national resources to another country, which was widely believed to be China. Beijing is also said to be concerned that the purge shows weakness in Kim's grip on power.

"The visit is intended to see if Kim's regime still remains stable," said Cai Jian , a Korean affairs expert at Fudan University. "It is not intended to stress the traditional friendship of the two nations, but to get an update about North Korea."

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying told reporters on Wednesday that the delegation visited the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang and met North Korean diplomats.

"They exchanged views on bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean peninsula," she said. "This is a routine exchange between the two."