North Korean envoy Choe Ryong Hae, center right, tours Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, an industrial park in the southern part of Beijing, May 23, 2013.
A North Korean envoy has told a senior Chinese official that Pyongyang is willing to take China＇s advice to start talks aimed at resolving tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that envoy Choe Ryong Hae made that remark to a high-ranking member of China＇s Communist Party, Liu Yunshan, during talks in Beijing Thursday.
Liu told Choe that China hopes all sides work to denuclearize the Korean peninsula, solve problems through dialogue and try to restart the six-party talks on North Korea＇s nuclear program.
Choe, a senior North Korean military official, visited China at a time of strained relations between the two allies. There are signs that China＇s new leadership is growing impatient with the North because of its nuclear ambitions.
China has long urged Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks, which include the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, and North and South Korea.
Choe is one of the highest-ranking North Korean party officials to visit China since Kim Jong Un took over leadership of the country after the death of his father in late 2011. Kim Jong Un sent Choe and a government delegation to China on Wednesday.
Some analysts say the North Korean trip to China may be an attempt to mend bilateral relations.
China has long been North Korea＇s primary ally and economic lifeline. |
|
