Chief nuclear negotiator from China ends visit to North Korea

Aug 21, 2009, 11:58 GMT

   Beijing - China's top negotiator in talks on North Korea's nuclear programme ended an unannounced five-day visit to Pyongyang Friday after meeting his North Korean counterpart, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.

   Vice Foreign Minister Wu also met with North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chuna during his trip, Xinhua said, without mentioning the nuclear talks.

   Instead, the agency said 'they exchanged views on bilateral relations, the regional situation and issues of mutual concern.'

   But South Korea's Yonhap News Agency cited an unnamed diplomatic source as saying this week that Wu would try to persuade North Korea to return to six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons programme.

   China has hosted the talks, which began in 2003 and involve it, North and South Korea, the United States Japan and Russia.

   During the course of those negotiations, North Korea agreed to dismantle its nuclear programme in return for energy and other aid and diplomatic concessions.

   However, the talks stalled last year, and North Korea announced in April that it was withdrawing from the negotiations and restarting its nuclear programme in reaction to international condemnation of its long-range rocket launch, also in April.