Beijing - The reclusive North Korean leader, Mr Kim Jong-il, is reported to have visited the Shanghai stock exchange and toured a car-making plant during his secretive weeklong visit to China, Miriam Donohoe reports.
While there has still been no official confirmation of the visit - only his second outside his country in 18 years - Mr Kim was seen from the viewing gallery above the stock exchange trading floor soon after the market opened yesterday.
Dressed in a dark suit and looking relaxed, traders said he stayed 10 minutes at most and did not go on to the trading floor or ask any questions.
The visit is seen as further evidence that economic reform is at the top of Mr Kim's agenda.