Kim calls for resumption of nuclear talks

During talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il expressed hope for an early resumption of the Six-Party Talks, the Xinhua News Agency reported Monday.

This was the first official confirmation from Beijing on Kim's trip from Thursday to Monday, during which he visited Jilin Province and Heilongjiang Province.

Pyongyang's stance on adhering to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula has remained unchanged, and it "is not willing to see tensions on the peninsula," Xinhua quoted Kim as saying in Changchun.

Kim expressed his wish to maintain close communication and coordination with China in pushing for an early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Also Monday, the Yonhap News Agency reported that Kim had returned to North Korea after his China visit.

Regarding the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in March, Hu said there had been some new developments in the Korean Peninsula situation since the UN Security Council adopted a presidential statement on the incident.

China respects and supports the positive efforts of Pyongyang to ease tensions while improving the outside environment, Hu added.

Xinhua said Kim replied that North Korea is now focusing on developing its economy and improving its people's livelihoods. He expressed his wish to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China.

Citing diplomatic sources, the Korean Times reported that the US would unveil the details of fresh sanctions against North Korea early this week.

If Kim secured economic support from China during his visit, Chinese investment will allow Pyongyang to feel less pain under Washington's pressure, the newspaper added.

"It is not the right time for the US to bring up more sanctions against North Korea because the situation on the peninsula is improving," Lü Chao, director of the Center of South Korean Studies of the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. "Beijing's support to Pyongyang will first go to flood relief in North Korea, rather than offsetting those sanctions."

Agencies - Global Times