Foreign and Military Affairs

DPRK's Kim hosts Chinese ambassador

By HYUNG-JIN KIM (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-05 09:45

Liu Hongcai stresses bilateral cooperation during visit with Tianjin women's volleyball team

SEOUL: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea leader Kim Jong-il hosted a weekend dinner in Pyongyang for the new Chinese ambassador, media reported Sunday, indicating the DPRK leader has not embarked on a much-speculated trip to Beijing.

Kim's potential visit is a focus of intense attention because it could mean Pyongyang's return to dormant China-hosted international disarmament talks on its nuclear weapons program.

China's Xinhua News Agency reported that Kim hosted a dinner party on Saturday for new Chinese ambassador Liu Hongcai, Chinese embassy diplomats and the visiting Chinese Tianjin Women's Volleyball Team.

The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee Secretary Kim Ki-nam said in his address the traditional DPRK-China friendship, which was fostered by the elder generations of the two countries' leaders, had developed to new levels under the guidance of WPK General Secretary Kim Jong-il and Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao.

Liu said China wanted to make more effort with the DPRK side for continuous consolidation and development of China-DPRK friendship and cooperation.

WPK Central Committee Secretary Choe Thae Bok, DPRK Foreign Affairs First Vice-Minister Kang Sok Ju and other major WPK and DPRK military officials were present at the party, at which the Chinese and DPRK sides sang national songs.

"All the participants warmly welcomed (Kim) with highest tribute as he has made an undying contribution to boosting" bilateral ties, the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agencysaid.

Media speculation on Kim's possible visit to China intensified after the Republic of Korea (ROK) presidential office said on Wednesday there was a high possibility a visit was in the works.

The ROK's Yonhap news agency had reported that a special train arrived early Saturday in the Chinese city of Dandong and quoted an anonymous ROK government official as saying the train might be carrying Kim or could be an advance train preceding a trip.

Yonhap later reported the train carried cargo.

Kim rarely travels abroad and only under tight security. He last visited China in January 2006 but Chinese President Hu Jintao has recently invited him to visit again.

Media reports speculated last week that China would offer economic assistance to the DPRK during Kim's trip, and Pyongyang would in return make a promise to return to the Six-Party Talks involving the two Koreas, China, the US, Russia and Japan.

The DPRK quit the forum last year and conducted a second underground nuclear test, resulting in tighter UN sanctions.

Speculation of a Kim trip in early April has been partially fueled by diplomatic and legislative calendars in China and the DPRK.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is to visit the United States for a nuclear security summit April 12-13.

The DPRK's parliament, meanwhile, is expected to convene April 9.

Associated Press