[USFK Forums] N. Korean Leader Reportedly in China [AP]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Wednesday, January 11, 2006

North Korean Leader Reportedly in China

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 1 minute ago

Secretive North Korean leader Kim Jong Il visited China's commercial hub of Shanghai on Wednesday, South Korean media reported, raising hopes of a resumption of international talks on the North's nuclear weapons program.

China has in the past announced Kim's visits only after he has returned to North Korea. His last visit was in early 2004.

It was not immediately clear how Kim traveled to China. South Korea's official Yonhap news agency said he flew to Shanghai, but South Korean cable television station YTN and a South Korean military intelligence official told The Associated Press he traveled to China on Tuesday by train.

There was no sign of any unusual activity or added security at Shanghai's main train station or at the Xijiao government guesthouse often used by official visitors.

Shanghai city government spokespeople said they had no word on a visit.

Kim, who seldom travels abroad, last visited Shanghai in January 2001, touring the city's stock exchange and foreign joint-venture companies to see capitalist-style economic reforms. He last visited China in April 2004 to meet with Chinese leaders and study reforms.

Beijing has long urged its hardline communist neighbor to adopt Chinese-style reforms, partly to reduce its dependence on food and fuel aid supplied by China.

Reports of Kim's visit have stirred hopes for new talks on the country's nuclear weapons program. The six-nation disarmament talks have been stalled since November, and North Korea refuses to return to the negotiating table, citing hostile U.S. policies.

The talks include the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

As North Korea's last major ally and aid donor, Beijing is under U.S. pressure to use its leverage to prod Pyongyang back to the talks. China has repeatedly said it wants a reduction of tensions and a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula.

China's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Kim planned to visit Beijing at some point — and that the nuclear issue would be a key topic for discussion — but did not give the exact timing.

Also Wednesday, South Korea's Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said that Christopher Hill, the top U.S. nuclear negotiator, will visit Japan, South Korea and China this week for consultations.

Ban told reporters in Seoul that Hill will first travel to Japan and arrive in South Korea late Wednesday for talks the following day. The envoy will then travel Thursday night to Beijing.

Robert Ogburn, the U.S. Embassy spokesman in Seoul, said Hill's visit was "part of the effort to talk to the various parties in the six-party talks."

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo would only say that Hill was due to arrive later Wednesday to meet with a Japanese Foreign Ministry official to discuss the apparent visit by Kim to China, as well as other matters.

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Associated Press reporters Kelly Olsen, Jae-Soon Chang and Bo-Mi Lim in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.

[mike]

South Korean military intelligence official told The Associated Press he traveled to China on Tuesday by train.

You ever notice that leaders like this are afraid to fly?

Mike