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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has gone to China by special train, according to sources in the country. On Tuesday, Kim reportedly traveled there through Shinuiju and neighboring Dandong, Liaoning Province.
A South Korean military source confirmed Kim is in the middle of a China trip. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan hinted at the visit in his regular press briefing. Asked whether the reclusive North Korean leader is visiting, Quan said, "I didn't receive any clear authorization, so I will not be able to talk to you about that issue.¡± He added the two countries ¡°are maintaining the good tradition of sending high-level officials on visits to meet each other.¡±
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-il shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao during the 2004 talks in Beijing.
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The secrecy makes it impossible to know what the exact purpose of Kim¡¯s visit is. But a source in Beijing said Kim would spend four or five days in the country and meet with President Hu Jintao to discuss stalled six-party talks on North Korea¡¯s nuclear program and expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries. The talks are in limbo as North Korea has said the U.S. must lift economic sanctions imposed over Pyongyang¡¯s alleged counterfeiting activities.
Another source in China said given that Hu visited North Korea only two months ago, Kim¡¯s visit appears to be aimed at the discussion of urgent issues. ¡°There is a strong likelihood that the North has formulated a position on the six-party talks and the visit serves to brief Beijing on the issue,¡± the source speculated.
Hu was in Pyongyang in October. Kim previously visited China in May 2000, January 2001 and April 2004.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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