The Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, arrived in North Korea for talks with its reclusive leader Kim Jong Il yesterday amid hopes of advancing nuclear disarmament by the pariah state after months of tension.
Mr Kim made the unusual gesture of greeting Mr Wen in person, embracing him as he arrived at Pyongyang airport. The visit appeared to end one of the worst periods in relations between East Asia’s two nuclear powers. The countries — once described by Mao Zedong as being “as close as lips and teeth” — have had frosty relations since April, when North Korea launched an intercontinental rocket, which was followed in May by an underground nuclear test. China ended support for its long-time ally and backed condemnation and sanctions by the UN Security Council.
The visit by Mr Wen — China’s second most senior leader — to Pyongyang suggests that differences have been overcome and North Korea is ready to resume some kind of negotiations, after abandoning Chinesesponsored disarmament talks in April.
“Respectable comrade Wen Jiabao’s visit to our country this time has huge meaning in its historical timing and political significance,” a commentary in North Korea’s state run Workers’ Newspaper said yesterday.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6861030.ece