China says it still supports inter-Korean dialogue

By Kim Young-gyo HONG KONG, June 2 (Yonhap) -- China said Thursday it still supports dialogue between South Korea and North Korea despite North Korea's vow to sever contact with the South. North Korea released on Wednesday a string of accusations that South Korea implored the communist country to agree to a summit through secret contact. The South, which acknowledged having such a meeting, denies it sought a summit and says it was trying to convince Pyongyang to stop its provocative behavior. "China has always stood for settling the issues on the Korean Peninsula peacefully, which is through dialogue," said Hong Lei, spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, according to the transcript of his semi-weekly press briefing, which was posted on the ministry's Web site. "We hope that the two Koreas will reconcile and cooperate to improve their relationship, and resolve their concerns through dialogue and consultation, so that they could together safeguard the peace and stability of the peninsula." North Korean leader Kim Jong-il last Friday ended a week-long trip to his country's foremost benefactor, China, which also hosts six-party nuclear talks designed to wean Pyongyang from its nuclear ambitions. China proposed earlier this year that North and South Korea hold direct denuclearization talks as a step toward the resumption of the talks that also include the U.S., Russia and Japan. The multilateral talks, which Seoul and Washington say should not reopen until Pyongyang makes tangible steps toward nuclear dismantlement, were last held in 2008.