North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho is seen in this file photo. EPA-Yonhap

A North Korean diplomatic delegation is visiting China for talks on strengthening cooperation, North Korean state media said Saturday, as Pyongyang slowly opens its borders and resumes trade with its neighbours after the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Korean Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pak Myong-ho and his counterpart Sun Weidong discussed boosting strategic cooperation and bilateral relations Friday, the KCNA said in a statement, without giving details.

References to North Korean officials going to China to discuss political issues publicly have been rare since January 2020, when North Korea closed its borders to curb the spread of COVID-19.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's trip to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in September was his first overseas visit since before the pandemic. (Reuters)