Nuke talks, economy on Kim’s agenda

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il arrived yesterday in China’s port city of Dalian via train to make his first visit to Pyongyang’s closest ally in more than four years, diplomatic sources said.

 

Kim is expected to stay for several days and meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

 

The North Korean leader appears to have traveled via Dandong, the border city between North Korea and China.

 

Sources in Beijing said that signs of Kim’s arrival had been prominent since the weekend.

 

A 17-car train arrived in Dandong around 5:20 a.m. (local time) Monday.

 

Officials in Beijing said it was rare to see such a long train traveling from North Korea. Security also was beefed up, with around 200 Chinese police officers guarding the train station in Dandong. The road in front of the station was blocked off ahead of the 5:20 train.

 

Kim is said to have arrived at a hotel in Dalian to review the companies that are reportedly investing in North Korean firms. He is then expected to take another heavily-guarded train to Beijing to meet with Hu.

 

Foreign Ministry officials here declined to confirm Kim’s arrival.

 

“We have been closely monitoring the situation regarding Kim Jong-il’s visit to China. But we believe that this matter is up to related governments (North Korea or China) to confirm,” said Kim Young-sun, the ministry spokesman.

 

Another official of the ministry said neither China nor the North notifies Seoul of such travels by Kim Jong-il.

 

The North Korean leader has so far been to China on four different occasions.

 

His latest visit comes amid suspicions that the North was involved in the March 26 sinking of a South Korean Navy corvette.

 

Pyongyang claims innocence but the Seoul government has hinted that the reclusive regime may have masterminded the sinking of the Cheonan as revenge for its defeat in an inter-Korean naval skirmish in November last year.

 

South Korea has launched an investigation to confirm the exact cause of the Cheonan’s sinking.

 

The North also is under pressure to return to the six-way talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons programs. Pyongyang said it would permanently quit the talks in April last year after the United Nations denounced its rocket launch. In May, the North conducted its second nuclear test.

 

Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan yesterday said it would be difficult to restart the talks in the current situation, indicating the suspicions surrounding the Cheonan’s sinking.

 

“But we will have to discuss with the other partners of the six-nation talks,” he told The Korea Herald.

 

The talks involve the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia.

 

China is chair and also a close ally to the North.

 

Some said Kim may request economic assistance from Hu in return for coming back to the six-way talks.

 

Speculation of Kim’s visit to China had been mounting since January this year following a visit to the North by a number of high-profile Chinese officials including Wen Jiabao, China’s prime minister.

 

Kim had promised to repay Wen’s visit.

 

On Friday, Hu had held talks with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, during which the two leaders discussed pressing regional matters including North Korea’s nuclear aspirations.

 

Source: The Korea Herald