Pyongyang 'to heed Beijing' (2)

These talks, initiated in 2003 in response to the DPRK withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, involve the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, China, the United States, Japan and Russia. In April 2009, the DPRK, irritated by a UN Security Council resolution to impose more sanctions on Pyongyang for a nuclear test, left the talks and resumed its nuclear weapons program.

Liu also told Choe that "consolidating and developing friendly ties between China and the DPRK is the consistent stand of the CPC and the Chinese government".

Beijing wants to strengthen communication with Pyongyang, expand consensus and push forward ties, Liu said.

Choe said Kim's aim in sending him to China is to "improve, consolidate and develop DPRK-China relations".

He said Pyongyang appreciates Beijing's efforts on maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula and pushing the peninsula issue "back to the channel of consultation".

"The DPRK hopes to concentrate on developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods, and it is willing to create a peaceful external environment," said Choe, a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee.

Shi Yongming, an Asia-Pacific studies researcher at the China Institute of International Relations, said Choe has sent a signal that Pyongyang is wiling to talk, and this will have a vital impact on the peninsula issue.

"Since Pyongyang held its third nuclear test in February, the situation on the peninsula has changed," Shi said.

Tensions escalated on the peninsula after Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests, which saw international sanctions tightened.

Choe's visit will enable Pyongyang to have in-depth talks with Beijing, to avoid misjudging the situation, Shi said.

"China is, so far, the only country in the world that can have in-depth talks with the DPRK, and high-ranking exchanges between the two neighbors have been a necessary step in breaking the impasse on the peninsula."

However, Shi said it is hard to see the Six-Party Talks resuming anytime soon.

Zhang Liangui, a Korean studies researcher at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said that although there has been an obvious improvement, judging by the envoy's remarks, there is no sign that Pyongyang is about to make any change in its nuclear policies.