Beijing: China on Monday confirmed that Premier Wen Jiabao would visit North Korea from October 4-6, as the international community increases the pressure on Pyongyang to return to nuclear disarmament talks.
"Premier Wen will hold talks and meet with North Korean leaders, and exchange views on developing China-North Korea relations as well as issues of common interest," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement.
Meanwhile, a news agency quoting the state-run Korean Central News Agency said in a brief dispatch that Wen will pay an "official goodwill" visit to the North from October 4-6 at the North Korean government`s invitation.
The dispatch didn`t provide details, but Wen`s trip comes after the North has taken a series of conciliatory gestures toward South Korea and the US after months of tension on its nuclear and missile programmes.
China, which is North Korea`s biggest source of economic aid and diplomatic support, is believed to hold the key for the resumption in stalled international disarmament talks on Pyongyang`s nuclear threat. The North pulled out of the talks in April to protest international criticism of a rocket launch.
Earlier today, Yonhap news agency reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il could announce some concrete denuclearisation measures during Wen`s visit.
Yonhap, citing unidentified diplomatic sources in Beijing, reported that Wen was expected to promise free and fuel aid to the impoverished North in return for Kim`s disarmament measures.
Bureau Report
