Chinese official to visit N.K. to discuss nuclear talks

BEIJING/SEOUL - A senior official of China`s Communist Party may arrive in North Korea as early as today, apparently on a mission to help resume stalled talks on ending the North`s nuclear program, sources in Seoul and Beijing said Friday.

Wang Jiarui, the head of the party`s international department, is expected to visit Pyongyang and meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. But the possibility remained opened as of yesterday that Wang may visit next week as the sources had earlier predicted.

"Wang`s trip to Pyongyang can be seen as part of a regular exchange of visits for New Year`s greetings, but it may bring significant changes to the six-party talks," a source said, asking not to be identified.

Another government source here said if there was any message mentioning the six-way talks aimed at ending the North`s nuclear weapons programs, it may indicate that "Pyongyang`s return to that dialogue has neared."

As chair of the six-way dialogue and traditionally a close ally to the North, China`s role in denuclearizing the North is considered as a major one.



Wang`s expected meeting with Kim will, therefore, be closely watched for possibility of leading to the North`s announcement of its return to the nuclear negotiations, also attended by South Korea, the United States, Japan, China and Russia.

Wang may also speak with Kim about the possibility of the North Korean leader visiting China.

The senior Chinese official previously visited North Korea in January last year as part of that regular exchange of visits.

The North has boycotted the nuclear negotiations since late 2008, but the North Korean leader told China`s visiting Premier Wen Jiabao last year that his country may return to the talks following bilateral dialogue with the United States.

A special U.S. representative for North Korea policy, Stephen Bosworth, visited Pyongyang in December but Pyongyang has yet to declare its return to the six-party talks.

Observers believe Pyongyang may do so following Kim`s anticipated trip to China to win economic concessions from its communist ally.

The North Korean leader was widely expected to visit China at the beginning of the year, but the sources said a trip was only possible after an invitation from the Chinese Communist Party as Kim, head of the National Defense Commission, does not hold any official title in the North`s Cabinet.

Wang, said to be tasked with delivering an invitation, was on a 12-day trip to Africa late last month.

Officials at South Korea`s foreign ministry refused to confirm Wang`s trip to Pyongyang, but said such a visit could help restart the nuclear negotiations.

"If Wang visits North Korea, he will likely meet many of North Korea`s ranking officials and we believe the topics of such meetings will inevitably include the six-party talks and North Korea`s return to the negotiating table," an official said.

(jemmie@heraldm.com)



By Kim Ji-hyun and news reports