N. Korean, Chinese premiers seek to resume nuclear talks

BEIJING, March 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korean Premier Kim Yong-il and his Chinese
counterpart Wen Jiabao discussed ways of resuming the six-party denuclearization
talks and other regional issues Wednesday, amid tension surrounding Pyongyang's
planned rocket launch.

Kim started a five-day visit to China a day earlier, accompanied by an entourage
of economy-related Cabinet ministers.
The premiers held hour-long talks at the Great Hall of the People before the
ceremony opening the "Year of Sino-DPRK Friendship" marking 60 years of
diplomatic relations. Chinese state media that covered the session, which was not
open to foreign media, made no mention of the North's rocket activity, saying the
premiers discussed the nuclear talks.
"We support the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Wen was quoted as
saying by China Central Television.
The six-party nuclear talks, grouping the Koreas, the United States, China, Japan
and Russia, have been stalled since December due to a dispute over how to verify
North Korea's past nuclear activity.
"For the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, the six-party North Korean
denuclearization talks should play an important role," Wen was quoted as saying.
In a brief session open to foreign media, Wen asked the North Korean premier to
convey his greetings to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and thanked him for
paying this "official goodwill visit."
The North Korean premier said it was his first official visit to China and that
he was "pleased to attend the opening ceremony of the historic year of Sino-DPRK
friendship."
He also praised China's handling of the international financial crisis and
stressed that Pyongyang will stand by Beijing on thorny diplomatic disputes.
"We'll provide our full support from start to end to the Chinese position on the
issues of Taiwan, Tibet and human rights," Kim said.
Wen emphasized that the allies are "neighbors who share mountains and rivers" and
that North Korea is one of the first countries with which China built diplomatic
relations.
Diplomatic sources say the premiers likely will sign trade and investment accords
and delve into pressing regional issues, such as the North's rocket plan, the
six-party talks and China's economic aid.
Kim is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and China's top
legislator Wu Bangguo on Thursday after visiting electronic industry firms around
Beijing.
China fought for North Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War against South Korea and
the United States and is a major donor to the impoverished North. South Korea's
humanitarian aid to Pyongyang was suspended about a year ago amid faltering
cross-border relations.
North Korea has notified international aviation and maritime agencies that it
will launch a "communication satellite" into orbit some time between April 4-8.
The U.S., South Korea and Japan have threatened U.N. sanctions, saying the North
will actually test a long-range missile that can theoretically reach the western
part of the U.S.
The U.N. adopted a resolution banning North Korea's missile activity after its
missile and nuclear test in 2006.
China reportedly shares the concerns of other countries in the region about the
planned rocket launch.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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