Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




NUKEWARS
N. Korea wants peace, envoy tells China official
by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) May 23, 2013


A special envoy from North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un told one of China's top officials Thursday that Pyongyang wants peace and is willing to pursue dialogue with key countries, state media reported.

Envoy Choe Ryong-Hae met Liu Yunshan, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's highest ranking body the Politburo Standing Committee, state television reported on its evening newscast.

China is the North's sole major ally and key economic benefactor. But relations have taken a downturn in recent months in the face of escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula after Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests, which saw international sanctions tightened.

The North -- angered by the sanctions and US-South Korean exercises -- threatened nuclear attacks on Seoul and Washington, sending military tensions sharply higher.

The report quoted Choe as telling Liu he was sent by Kim to improve, consolidate and further develop relations and that the North was willing to work with China.

Choe also praised China's efforts for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. He said the North was willing to accept Beijing's proposals to develop dialogue with other parties.

It was not immediately clear if he was referring to long-stalled efforts -- the so-called six-party talks -- by China, Japan, the United States, Russia and South Korea to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

Choe said his country "hopes to concentrate its energy on developing its economy and improving people's livelihood and is ready to create a peaceful external environment for this", China's state news agency Xinhua reported.

Choe, a vice marshal and director of the Korean People's Army's General Political Bureau, is said to be a close confidant of Kim, who has led North Korea for more than a year.

He is believed to be the highest-ranking North Korean to visit China since Kim's late father and predecessor Kim Jong-Il in August 2011. The elder Kim died in December 2011.

Liu told Choe that China hopes all relevant parties will work for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, solve problems through dialogue and achieve an early restart of the six-party talks.

The report showed footage of the talks in Beijing's elaborate Great Hall of the People, with Choe dressed in military uniform. Other officials from both sides also attended.

The Politburo Standing Committee has only seven members and is led by President Xi Jinping.

The meeting with Liu was preceded Wednesday by one with Wang Jiarui, head of the ruling party's International Department, which Beijing said was to "exchange views" on "issues of common interest".

Earlier Thursday Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei gave no details of Choe's trip.

It remained unclear if the North korean envoy would meet Xi during his visit.

Before news of the meeting with Liu, state media had quoted Chinese analysts as saying that the rank of the officials Choe was allowed to meet would be a key in determining the visit's success.

Choe's trip comes ahead of a flurry of high-level diplomacy involving China and other key players.

President Xi will meet US President Barack Obama on June 7-8 in the United States for their first summit.

Hong confirmed that South Korea's new president will pay a state visit to China in late June.

"We believe that President Park Geun-Hye's state visit to China will bring China-Republic of Korea relations to a new and higher level," he said, using the South's official name.

.


Related Links
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








NUKEWARS
Japan protests at S. Korean daily's A-bomb op-ed
Tokyo (AFP) May 23, 2013
Japan on Thursday accused a South Korean newspaper of "dishonourable" behaviour for publishing an editorial suggesting the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were "divine punishment". The editorial in the Korean and English versions of the Joongang Ilbo daily on Monday said the 1945 nuclear bombs dropped by US planes, which together killed more than 200,000 people, were justified. ... read more


NUKEWARS
Moon being pushed away from Earth faster than ever

Bright Explosion on the Moon

NASA says meteor impact on the moon glowed like a star

Where on Earth did the moon's water come from

NUKEWARS
Mars Rover Opportunity Examines Clay Clues in Rock

Opportunity Rides Into History For Offworld Drive

NASA Mars Rover Curiosity Drills Second Rock Target

Mars Icebreaker Life Mission

NUKEWARS
Desert Tests Pave Way for Human Exploration of Small Bodies

Russia designs reusable spacecraft good for as many as five missions

British astronaut 'Major Tim' to fly to ISS

Danish Space Venture ready for lift off

NUKEWARS
China launches communications satellite

On Course for Shenzhou 10

Yuanwang III, VI depart for space-tracking missions

Shenzhou's Shadow Crew

NUKEWARS
Next destination: space

Russia to Send 'Stress-Relief' Software to ISS

Mice, gerbils perish in Russia space flight

Star Canadian spaceman back on Earth, relishing fresh air

NUKEWARS
O3b Networks Launcher and payload integration are underway at Kourou

Arianespace underscores strong partnership with Japan during Tokyo meetings

O3b Networks' initial satellite is fueled for Arianespace's upcoming Soyuz launch from the Spaceport

Ariane Flight VA214's launch vehicle marks a preparation milestone

NUKEWARS
Critical Kepler Reaction Wheel Fails: Mission End In Sight

Sifting Through the Atmosphere's of Far-Off Worlds

New Method of Finding Planets Scores its First Discovery

Team Takes Part in Discovering New Planet

NUKEWARS
3-D modeling technology offers groundbreaking solution for engineers

NASA Seeks High-Performance Spaceflight Computing Capabilities

SPUTNIX is granted a license for space activity

Stanford Engineers' New Metamaterial Doubles Up on Invisibility




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement