Denuclearization

Beijing has been pushing its reclusive and impoverished neighbor to return to six-party talks for months. On Friday, Chinese state media reported that Kim Jong-il had said he was committed to the aim of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula during talks with Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo in northeast China's Heilongjiang province. He had made a similar pledge earlier this week in Russia.

"The DPRK adheres to the goal of denuclearization on the Korean peninsula and is ready to fully implement the September 19 joint statement along with all sides," Kim was quoted as saying by Xinhua, referring to a statement signed in 2005, in which North Korea promised to abandon all nuclear weapons and existing atomic programs.

North Korea abandoned six-party negotiations in April 2009. One month later, it conducted its second nuclear test. It has occasionally stated its desire to resume the talks, which involve China, Japan, the United States, the two Koreas and Russia, but only "without preconditions."

South Korea, the US and Japan have repeatedly said that North Korea must first show it is serious about nuclear disarmament before there can be a resumption of negotiations on the possible lifting of sanctions and the provision of international aid.

Talks are in 'common interest'

In the past, Pyongyang has flouted agreements over its nuclear weapons ambitions and observers doubt it will put a stop to its efforts to build an atomic arsenal it sees as a bargaining tool with the outside world.

Kim Jong-il repeated his desire to resume talks in Russia this week but the proposal was dismissed as nothing new by the US and South Korea. "If it's true, it's a welcome first step, but far from enough to resume the six-party talks," US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.

Earlier this month, Beijing said an early resumption of six-party denuclearization talks was "in the common interest" of all the countries involved.

China is the North's sole major ally and a crucial prop for its ailing economy, especially since South Korea severed most ties with Pyongyang last year, accusing it of torpedoing one of its warships and killing 46 sailors.

Xinhua said on Friday that Kim had crossed into China by train at the border city of Manzhouli on his way back to North Korea from Russia. He was not expected to travel to Beijing. In the past, the North Korean leader's visits to China have been shrouded in secrecy, only confirmed by either side after his departure.

Author: Anne Thomas (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Chi Viet Giang