Posted on : Jul.12,2006 10:53 KST Modified on : Jul.12,2006 11:26 KST

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Itinerary change at request of China, engaged in talks with North

Changing his itinerary, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill returned to Beijing on July 11 and had close consultations with his Chinese counterparts on ways to revive the stalled six-party talks on the issue of North Korea’s nuclear program.

Secretary Hill, Washington’s chief envoy to the talks, was visiting Tokyo as part of a visit to certain member countries of the talks, including China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia. His first trip to China included a meeting with several Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. At the meeting, China stressed the potentially divisive effects of the UN Security Council resolution, for which Japan has been pushing.

On arriving at Beijing International Airport, Hill told reporters that his return to the country came at the request of the Chinese government, adding that China is playing a very important role at a critical time.


Hill’s second visit to Beijing comes as China and North Korea are currently engaged in talks in Pyongyang to try to resume the six-party talks. China sent a delegation to Pyonyang to celebrate the 45th anniversary of a friendship treaty between the two countries, and also to persuade the North to return to the multilateral talks. The delegation is led by Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and includes Wu Dawei, who chairs the six-way talks.

Tensions have mounted in Northeast Asia since the North test-fired seven missiles July 5 local time, in defiance of repeated warnings by the West and its allies.

The launches included a Taepodong-2, believed by some experts to be capable of reaching parts of the U.S.

The unexpected move by the reclusive state compounded efforts by the international community to resume the six-party negotiations, which have been in a stalemate since November due to the North’s anger at U.S. economic sanctions placed against it.

To diffuse the tension, in addition to Hill’s trip, other diplomatic efforts are underway.

In a telephone conversation, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked for China’s State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan to be more active in dealing with the North Korea issue, officials close to the matter said.

Tang was quoted as saying that the Chinese government will remain committed to protecting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and would seek the resumption of six-party talks to pursue a nuclear-free Korea.

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