NK Leader May Visit China in March
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is expected to visit China in March to discuss issues of mutual concern including the North's economic reform, a report said Sunday.
China wants to invite Kim in late March when the National People's Congress ends, Yonhap news agency reported, quoting unidentified multiple diplomatic sources.
The Congress is considered the top power organ of China.
``I understand that China plans to arrange Kim's visit before Chinese President Hu Jintao visits Japan in mid-April,'' a source was quoted as saying by Yonhap.
But it remains unclear whether Kim will visit China at that time because of uncertainties in geopolitical conditions in the region, the source said, citing an unclear roadmap for the diplomatic normalization between Washington and Pyongyang due to a stalemate over the communist state's nuclear weapons program.
North Korea missed a Dec. 31 deadline to disable its main atomic plants and declare all its nuclear programs under the denuclearization-for-assistance pact signed with the United States, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia on Feb. 13, 2007.
Under the deal, the North is to receive 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or equivalent aid and other concessions from the five other countries in return for disabling its key nuclear facilities and providing a list of its nuclear activities.
The North refuses to address its suspected highly enriched uranium weapons program to the satisfaction of the United States.
Another source in Beijing said, ``North Korea and China are unofficially preparing for Kim's visit to Beijing.''
Kim visited China four times in May 2000, January 2001, April 2004 and January 2006.
Speculation is also growing that the reclusive leader may visit Vietnam next month after the Lunar New Year holiday season.
Informed sources reportedly said Kim promised to visit Vietnam, but no specific timetable has been set.