Chinese envoy set to visit South

China’s chief nuclear envoy will visit South Korea this week for talks on his recent trip to North Korea, Seoul’s foreign ministry said yesterday.

The move is part of Beijing’s effort to help reopen international talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear programs.

Wu Dawei made a surprise trip to Pyongyang last week for talks with his North Korean counterpart on resuming the stalled six-party nuclear talks.

The two sides “reached a full consensus of views on all matters discussed,” Pyongyang’s official news agency said without elaborating.

Seoul’s foreign ministry said that Wu will visit Seoul Thursday to Saturday for meetings with South Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator Wi Sung-lac and senior presidential security secretary Kim Sung-hwan.

Discussion topics will include the outcome of Wu’s trip to Pyongyang, it said.

The Chinese efforts to get the dormant talks moving came despite Seoul’s opposition to restarting the negotiating process unless Pyongyang comes clean on the Cheonan’s sinking - for which it has denied any involvement - and shows a sincere willingness to disarm.