North Korea open for new nuclear talks, China says (Roundup)

Oct 5, 2009, 11:58 GMT

   Pyongyang/Beijing - North Korea said it was willing to hold bilateral and multilateral talks on ending its nuclear weapons programme, raising hopes of reviving stalled six-nation talks, China's foreign ministry said Monday.

   The ministry quoted Prime Minister Kim Yong Il as telling his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao during a rare meeting in Pyongyang Sunday that North Korea was' willing to have bilateral and multilateral dialogue' on denuclearization.

   Kim Yong Il said denuclearization was the wish of former North Korean leader Kim Il Sung.

   'The (North) Korean side is always willing to achieve this aim through bilateral and multilateral dialogue,' he said.

   'The Korean side hopes to maintain close communication and coordination with the Chinese side,' he said.

   Wen continued talks on Tuesday with Kim Yong Nam, the official number two in the ruling Korean Workers' Party, on a visit timed to coincide with celebrations of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the communist neighbours.

   'Thanks to joint efforts of both sides, the traditional friendship between the two countries has stood the test of time, is being further consolidated and developed, and is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples,' Wen was quoted as telling Kim Yong Nam.

   Wen was also expected to hold talks with North Korea's top leader, Kim Jong Il, during his three-day visit, which is scheduled to end Tuesday.

   Chinese state television showed Kim Jong Il hugging Wen as he arrived at Pyongyang's main airport on Sunday, the first time the North Korean leader has appeared at the airport since 2007.

   Wen held formal talks with Kim Yong Il later on Sunday, saying China 'appreciates North Korea persisting with the target of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.'

   'To achieve the denuclearization of the Peninsula through dialogue and consultation is the common consensus of the international community, and is the essential path for solving the North Korean nuclear issue,' the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Wen as saying.

   China hopes to persuade North Korea to return to the six-nation talks on ending its nuclear weapons drive. China, Russia, Japan, the United States and South Korea were also involved in the talks.

   North Korea meanwhile blamed the United States for the nuclear dispute. In remarks carried by state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yong Il said his side 'pointed out that the United States is to blame for the occurrence of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.'

   Pyongyang habitually accuses Washington of initiating the conflict by providing a nuclear umbrella for South Korea, following the 1950-53 Korean War. The two Koreas technically remain at a state of war, as the two countries never signed a peace treaty.