SEOUL, South Korea – Kim Jong Un the marshal became Kim Jong Un the statesman as he talked with Chinese political dignitaries in meetings state media reported Friday that were his first official foray into foreign affairs since becoming North Korea's leader.

Kim told Wang Jiarui, head of the Communist Party's international affairs office, that his government is focused on building the economy, then invited the Chinese delegation to a banquet Thursday, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported. The Korean Central News Agency reported the meeting without details on their discussions.

The occasion was Kim's diplomatic debut as leader of North Korea, seven months after he took power following the December death of his father, longtime leader Kim Jong Il.