(3rd LD) North Korean leader says willing to resolve nuclear dispute through talks

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead, UPDATES with Xinhua report on Kim's remarks through
6th para)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il said in talks with a
Chinese presidential envoy on Friday that he is willing to resolve an ongoing
nuclear standoff with the international community through "bilateral or
multilateral dialogue," China's news agency said.
"North Korea will continue to maintain its goal of denuclearization and make
efforts for the protection of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Kim
was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as telling Dai Bingguo in the talks.
"I hope to resolve this issue through bilateral or multilateral dialogue," he was
quoted as saying.
Dai, a Chinese state councilor, arrived in the North Korean capital two days
earlier as a special envoy of President Hu Jintao amid stepped-up regional
diplomatic efforts to bring Pyongyang back to the six-party denuclearization
talks.
In a letter to Kim conveyed through his envoy, Hu said, "It is China's consistent
goal to realize denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to safeguard and
promote peace, stability and development of Northeast Asia," Xinhua said. "China
is ready to spare no effort to work with the DPRK (North Korea) to realize such a
goal," Hu said in the letter.
The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim "expressed thanks for this
and asked the special envoy to convey his regards" to Hu. The two held talks "in
an amicable atmosphere" on relations between the two countries and "a series of
issues of mutual concern," it said.
The report gave no further details, but the meeting comes as the United States is
considering holding direct talks with North Korea on nuclear disarmament.
Dai's visit highlighted China's role as a mediator between North Korea and the
U.S., currently deadlocked in six-party talks that also involve South Korea,
Japan and Russia.
On Wednesday, Dai exchanged "candid and in-depth" views with North Korea's first
vice foreign minister, Kang Sok-ju, about bilateral relations and international
issues, the KCNA said. Kang is in charge of the North's diplomacy regarding the
six-party talks aimed at ending the country's nuclear weapons program.
Dai was accompanied by Wu Dawei, China's chief envoy to the nuclear talks.
The visit came ahead of an expected trip to Pyongyang by Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao early next month to mediate envisioned one-on-one talks between North
Korea and the United States.
North Korea previously pledged to terminate its nuclear drive in exchange for
diplomatic and economic benefits from other members of the talks but quit the
forum in April to protest U.N. sanctions imposed over its long-range rocket test.
The country conducted its second nuclear test in May, drawing stronger U.N.
sanctions.
Dai also met with Kim Yong-nam, the North's nominal No. 2 leader, on Thursday.
The two watched a classic Chinese opera reenacted by North Korean artists, "The
Dream of the Red Chamber," at the Pyongyang Grand Theater. The allies are
celebrating the 60th anniversary of their relations this year.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)