North Korean pop music band left Beijing abruptly to head back to pyongyang.

Members of an all-female North Korean pop music band left Beijing abruptly on Saturday before they were due to perform at a concert, heading back to Pyongyang, Japan's Kyodo news service reported.

The Moranbong Band, formed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was visiting China along with the North's State Merited Chorus and was due to perform later on Saturday at Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts.

Members of the band were seen departing from Beijing's international airport, Kyodo said, without identifying a source.

The band's China visit had been seen as an indication of improving relations between China and its isolated neighbor. China is North Korea's main economic and diplomatic backer, but relations were believed to have cooled until recently.