DPRK nuclear envoy in Beijing

Pyongyang's envoy to the six-nation nuclear talks Kim Kye-gwan arrived in Beijing last night and is scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei today.

Sources with the Foreign Ministry said Kim is stopping over in Beijing on his way home after a significant US trip, in which he and US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill held a two-day discussion in New York.

Kim is expected to brief Wu, the top Chinese nuclear negotiator, on the details of his meeting with Hill, which followed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) February 13 pledge to dismantle its nuclear program.

Hill, who has been negotiating with Kim for nearly three years, said he was satisfied with the discussion and was optimistic about a breakthrough.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China welcomes the start of meetings between the DPRK and the United States, and between the DPRK and Japan this week.

The European Union also said yesterday it would try to improve relations with the DPRK if Pyongyang implements the Six-Party Talks' agreement on its nuclear program.

Source: China Daily