DPRK premier begins visit to China

Premier Pak Bong Ju of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) arrived in Beijing Tuesday morning, starting his first official good-will visit to China after taking office in 2003.

As guest of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Pak is scheduled to visit Shanghai, Shenyang and Anshan besides Beijing, according to diplomatic sources.

Pak visited China in 2004 accompanying DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il.

Analysts here believe that the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue and economic cooperation between China and DPRK will be high on Pak's agenda during the visit.

The six-party talks, involving China, DPRK, the United States, Russia, the Republic of Korea and Japan, are aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue. Three rounds of talks had been held in Beijing before it came to a standstill last September.

DPRK claimed on Feb. 10 this year that it was compelled to suspend the six-party nuclear talks "indefinitely" due to the United States' hostile policy towards it.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in Beijing Monday the United States had no intention to invade DPRK.

The six-party talks "is the best way to solve the issue," Rice told a press conference before concluding her visit to China.