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DPRK tells Wen it open to nuke talks

(Agencies/China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-05 12:10

Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Yong-il told his visiting Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao Sunday that the country was open to bilateral and multilateral talks on its nuclear programmes, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

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"DPRK has never abandoned the goal (of denuclearising the Korean peninsula). We are willing to seek to realize this goal through bilateral and multilateral dialogue," Kim was quoted as saying by the CCTV.

Wen said China approved of the DPRK's vow to seek "denuclearisation", the report said.

"Safeguarding the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia is in line with the interests of all relevant parties, including the DPRK," Wen was quoted as saying.

"The world community universally agrees on achieving de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula through dialogue and consultation," Wen said.

Wen is on a 3-day visit to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Experts predicted the topic of nuclear weapons will be on the agenda.

Analysts said China would not have sent such a senior official unless the visit was to address tensions over the nuclear activities of DPRK, which have recently included nuclear testing and claims the nation has made progress in enriching uranium. 

Zhu Feng, a professor in international security at Peking University, said earlier that "this visit will be mostly focused on bolstering bilateral ties and the 60th anniversary, but the nuclear issue is sure to come up".

Wen is accompanied on his three-day visit by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Wu Dawei, China's envoy to the stalled six-nation disarmament talks, Xinhua reported.

The DPRK's media hailed Wen's trip, with the official daily Rodong Sinmun saying it would "open a new chapter" in the relationship.

The Korean Central News Agency said "hundreds of thousands of citizens from all walks of life warmly welcomed the goodwill mission."