ID :
203549
Thu, 08/25/2011 - 16:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/203549
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N. Korean leader transits China on return trip from Russia
BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- The train carrying the North Korean leader was spotted at a Chinese railway station Thursday, an indication that Kim Jong-il plans to return from his trip to Russia via China.
Sources said that the special train was seen stopping at the Manzhouli Railway Station in Inner Mongolia at around 6:14 p.m. before it headed east again. During the short stop, there were several people who may have been Chinese officials waiting on the train platform.
The decision to cross Chinese territory may be a move to shorten Kim's train ride back to his country after his summit meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at a military base on the outskirts of the eastern Siberian city of Ulan-Ude on Wednesday. Crossing China can reduce the train ride by roughly 1,500 kilometers and 20 hours.
Initially, Kim's armored train was expected to retrace its steps and head for the port city of Vladivostok. There was speculation that Kim could meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the city before crossing the border back to North Korea.
It was not immediately clear whether Kim would hold talks with Chinese leaders as his train rolled across China, with many predicting he would probably head straight for the North Korea-China border, although there is a chance that such a meeting could take place.
Kim's arrival in China marks the fourth time in the last 15 months that the North Korean leader has traversed Chinese soil, with his last trip taking place in May.
Sources said that because of the railway line in China, Kim may stop at Harbin and Changchun, which are major cities in the region.
If he stops, and a meeting takes place, it may be in the form of a debriefing on his summit with the Russian leader. Such a move can show the world the close ties that exist between North Korea and its main supporter China.
Experts said that if a meeting takes place, it may not be with top Chinese leaders such as President Hu Jintao, but likely involve "second-tier" officials. Kim could touch on the need for development of the Rason special economic zone on the North's eastern coast near the Chinese and Russian border. Talks could concern building up areas along the Tumen River region.
Other North Korean watchers said a meeting with Hu could take place, since the Chinese leader had met with Kim on his last three visits.
On the Kim-Medvedev summit that could be the focal point of any talks with Chinese officials, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said Thursday in a dispatch from Pyongyang that the two leaders shared the view that the six-party talks should be resumed without any preconditions at an early date. The six-party talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China aim to end North Korea's nuclear weapons programs through peaceful negotiations.
The dispatch, however, did not mention Kim's reported promise to impose a moratorium on tests and production of nuclear weapons if the disarmament-for-aid talks resume.
The North quit the talks in 2009, though it has since repeatedly expressed its desire to return to the talks that involve South Korea, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.
South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Wi Sung-lac, meanwhile, arrived in Beijing earlier in the day for one-day talks with his Chinese counterpart on how to move the nuclear talks forward.
Pyongyang has a track record of alternately using provocations and dialogue with South Korea, the United States and other regional powers to try to wrest concessions before backtracking on agreements and quitting the nuclear talks.
Sources said that the special train was seen stopping at the Manzhouli Railway Station in Inner Mongolia at around 6:14 p.m. before it headed east again. During the short stop, there were several people who may have been Chinese officials waiting on the train platform.
The decision to cross Chinese territory may be a move to shorten Kim's train ride back to his country after his summit meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at a military base on the outskirts of the eastern Siberian city of Ulan-Ude on Wednesday. Crossing China can reduce the train ride by roughly 1,500 kilometers and 20 hours.
Initially, Kim's armored train was expected to retrace its steps and head for the port city of Vladivostok. There was speculation that Kim could meet Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the city before crossing the border back to North Korea.
It was not immediately clear whether Kim would hold talks with Chinese leaders as his train rolled across China, with many predicting he would probably head straight for the North Korea-China border, although there is a chance that such a meeting could take place.
Kim's arrival in China marks the fourth time in the last 15 months that the North Korean leader has traversed Chinese soil, with his last trip taking place in May.
Sources said that because of the railway line in China, Kim may stop at Harbin and Changchun, which are major cities in the region.
If he stops, and a meeting takes place, it may be in the form of a debriefing on his summit with the Russian leader. Such a move can show the world the close ties that exist between North Korea and its main supporter China.
Experts said that if a meeting takes place, it may not be with top Chinese leaders such as President Hu Jintao, but likely involve "second-tier" officials. Kim could touch on the need for development of the Rason special economic zone on the North's eastern coast near the Chinese and Russian border. Talks could concern building up areas along the Tumen River region.
Other North Korean watchers said a meeting with Hu could take place, since the Chinese leader had met with Kim on his last three visits.
On the Kim-Medvedev summit that could be the focal point of any talks with Chinese officials, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said Thursday in a dispatch from Pyongyang that the two leaders shared the view that the six-party talks should be resumed without any preconditions at an early date. The six-party talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China aim to end North Korea's nuclear weapons programs through peaceful negotiations.
The dispatch, however, did not mention Kim's reported promise to impose a moratorium on tests and production of nuclear weapons if the disarmament-for-aid talks resume.
The North quit the talks in 2009, though it has since repeatedly expressed its desire to return to the talks that involve South Korea, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.
South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, Wi Sung-lac, meanwhile, arrived in Beijing earlier in the day for one-day talks with his Chinese counterpart on how to move the nuclear talks forward.
Pyongyang has a track record of alternately using provocations and dialogue with South Korea, the United States and other regional powers to try to wrest concessions before backtracking on agreements and quitting the nuclear talks.
