SEOUL, Apr 4 (AP) -- China's defense minister arrived Tuesday in the North Korean capital, the North's official media reported, as part of an Asian tour that will also take him to South Korea.

Cao Gangchuan was greeted at the Pyongyang airport by Kim Jong Gak, vice minister of the People's Armed Forces, the North's Korean Central News Agency said in a two-sentence dispatch that gave no other details on the visit.

China is the North's last major ally and fought on the country's side during the 1950-53 Korean War. Beijing is also the host of international arms talks seeking to convince the North to abandon its nuclear weapons program. The negotiations haven't met since November and have failed to make any progress on implementing a September agreement where the North pledged to disarm.

Cao is also visiting Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam during his trip, China's official Xinhua News Agency said Tuesday.