A variable-discharge high pressure pump (10) for pressure-feeding fuel to a common rail (6) for use in a diesel engine (1). The pump has a plunger (18), a plunger chamber (19), a cam (17) for reciprocatively moving the plunger; an opening-out type electromagnetic valve (15) capable of opening and closing one end of the plunger chamber, a fuel reservoir (22), a check valve (23) communicating with the plunger chamber, and an inlet pipe (14) for supplying fuel to the fuel reservoir. Both the introduction of the fuel into the plunger chamber and the return of the fuel from the plunger chamber to the fuel reservoir are effected through the electromagnetic valve.