Nice words, no new North talks

BEIJING ― Chinese President Hu Jintao said China opposes nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and dialogue must be used to resolve the standoff over the North Korean nuclear program.
But he added that North Korea’s security concerns must also be adequately addressed in the process of resolving the conflict.
Speaking at a news conference after a meeting with the Chinese president, President Roh Moo-hyun said he agreed with Mr. Hu that it was important for dialogue among “the countries affected” by the North Korean nuclear problem to begin quickly.
That wording was a change from “related countries” in a press release distributed before the talks, and the Blue House national security adviser, Ra Jong-yil, told reporters that the slight change in wording had no meaning other than that there has been no decision on the format of talks to pursue a settlement.
Mr. Roh was received by China’s new president at a military ceremony in front of the Great Hall of the People before their meeting. Arriving with his wife, Kwon Yang-sook, Mr. Roh became the first leader to visit China since the onslaught of the severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, there.
Both leaders have been in office for less than six months.
Mr. Roh said at the news conference that he asked China to play an active role in resolving the North Korean problem.
Mr. Hu replied, “The channels of communication between China and North Korea are open.” He also warned of developments that could provoke the North and cause the situation to worsen. “China has worked to create opportunities to keep the problem from getting out of control,” he said.
China hosted the first and only talks involving North Korea and the United States since the latest nuclear problem surfaced in October. Beijing also participated in those talks in April. But despite efforts by China to continue them, Pyeongyang and Washington still disagree on a format for the next round of consultations. Pyeongyang wants bilateral talks with Washington, which insists the nuclear weapons the North says it has are a broader problem.
On South Korea’s relations with the North, Mr. Hu said he supported the Roh administration’s “peace and prosperity policy” of engaging the North.
The two leaders also pledged greater economic cooperation between the countries. They set a target of $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2008, he said. Mr. Roh noted that despite concern in Korea about China’s surge in manufacturing, China’s economic development is opening new opportunities for Korea.
The Blue House senior secretary for public information, Lee Hae-sung, said the two leaders would not issue a joint statement after yesterday’s meeting, but would wait until after Mr. Roh’s meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao today to issue one.

by Choi Hoon