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Korea |
Chinese Leader Sets Off |
2003-10-29 |
BEIJING (AP) - China’s No. 2 leader began a ``goodwill visit’’ to North Korea on Wednesday as efforts mount to convene a second round of six-nation talks on the insular nation’s nuclear program - a parley that would probably be held, like its predecessor, in Beijing. Wu Bangguo, a member of the Communist Party’s Standing Committee and head of China’s legislature, is leading a state delegation that also includes a vice premier, Zeng Peiyan, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Also aboard: Wang Yi, the diplomat who is China’s point man on North Korea. Some heavies there. A top-level military official is also on the trip, Xinhua said. The North’s official news agency, KCNA, reported the party arrived in Pyongyang late Wednesday morning at the invitation of North Korea. The trip by Wu is be the highest-level visit to the North by a Chinese leader in more than two years. It comes as China encourages the reconvening of six-nation talks over the North’s nuclear program. "Listen, you nuts, you’re coming to the conference whether you like it or not." Many believe Beijing, North Korea’s Then agan, they could just be nuts. China, in its dealings with North Korea, is struggling to balance its duty to its longtime communist ally and neighbor with its deep trepidation at what a nuclear Korean Peninsula might mean for Chinese security. Weather forecasting being the inexact science that it is, you just never know where the fallout will land. A six-nation summit in Beijing in August brought together the two Koreas, China, the United States, Japan and Russia to discuss Pyongyang’s nuclear program. The talks adjourned with no concrete progress but with a promise to meet again - an agreement that the North since has questioned. Last week, though, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhang Qiyue referred to ``the next Beijing talks,’’ implying that China considers them a certainty. "Youse muggs, I’m tellin’ youse ..." |
Posted by:Steve White |
#2 A military action/confrontation with Korea would have devastating effects on trade in the region, including China - even if it sat on the sidelines. I don't see where there's an upside to letting Kimmy continue playing with matches, even for China |
Posted by: Frank G 2003-10-29 9:52:59 AM |
#1 North Korea’s most powerful ally You mean they have others? Hey Wu (I like the sound of that;), make them an offer they can't refuse. |
Posted by: Spot 2003-10-29 5:17:19 AM |