China, North Korea in talks over 'compensation package' to dump nuke, missile programs: report

China has been in talks since last August with North Korea over the dumping of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons, according to a report from Hong Kong news agency Aboluowang on Wednesday. / Korea Times file

By Eom Da-sol

Are China and North Korea in the final stage of talks to abandon the latter’s nuclear weapon and long-range missile programs?

With various rumors swirling amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Hong Kong-based news outlet Aboluowang claimed the two countries have been in secret talks since last August and the dialogue has evolved to the point where they negotiated detailed terms to ensure the programs’ permanent termination.

The four terms the North reportedly suggested to China are: offering unconditional financial aid of $600 billion a year for the next 10 years (raised by China, South Korea, the United States, Japan and Russia), lifting all U.N. and international sanctions on the isolated country, settlement of the Washington-Pyongyang peace treaty and to promise the safety of the Kim Jong-un regime.

The only condition China reportedly suggested in return was the dumping of nuclear weapon and missile programs within three years of the deal’s signing.

But talks are reportedly deadlocked over China’s determination to send nuclear experts to the North to monitor dismantling of the programs.

Experts here consider the rumor baseless, coming amid heightened tensions on the peninsula and rising hope for a diplomatic breakthrough.

South Korea’s foreign ministry did not know about the report.

“We are working to check whether the report was grounded,” a foreign ministry official said.