China Repeats Invitation to Kim Jong-il
By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
China has reiterated its invitation to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for a summit, according to Pyongyang's state-run radio station Thursday. Kim accepted the invitation last month but no meeting has been arranged.
Jia Qinglin, chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference of China, extended another invitation on Wednesday through a letter from Chinese President Hu Jintao, the Korean Central Broadcasting Station said.
``Mutual visits by leaders of the two countries will play the most important and irreplaceable role in strengthening bilateral relations," the Chinese official was quoted as telling visiting North Korean officials.
North Korea watchers say that a Kim-Hu summit will likely take place this year, given that the two allies celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on Oct. 6.
Hong Ihk-pyo, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, said the two sides can't ``just let this year pass," according to the Yonhap News Agency.
With regard to Kim's health condition, Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun told reporters that he appears to be well enough to travel to China, citing his recent trip to the North's northeastern region.
The Korean Central Broadcasting Station (KCBS) released a photo of its leader lighting up during a tour to a cigarette factory in North Hamgyeong Province on Wednesday, an apparent move to show off his health.
Kim, 67, reportedly quit smoking years ago. He was reported to have suffered a stroke last August.