This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/world/asia/envoy-says-north-korea-open-to-dialogue.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Envoy Says North Korea Open to Dialogue Envoy Says North Korea Open to Dialogue
(35 minutes later)
BEIJING — A North Korean envoy, Marshal Choe Ryong-hae, said the North would “accept the proposal” by China to “open up dialogue,” the China News Service reported on Thursday. BEIJING — A North Korean envoy, Marshal Choe Ryong-hae, said the North would “accept the proposal” by China to “open up dialogue,” the China News Service reported Thursday.
The comments were reported after the Marshal Choe met Liu Yunshan, a member of the Communist Party Standing Committee and the politician who heads ideological affairs for the Communist Party. The comments were reported after Marshal Choe met Liu Yunshan, a member of the Communist Party Standing Committee and the politician who heads ideological affairs for the Communist Party.
Mr. Liu was quoted as saying that China wanted a resumption of talks that would result in the removal of nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula “as soon as possible.” Chinese officials frequently make such appeals.Mr. Liu was quoted as saying that China wanted a resumption of talks that would result in the removal of nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula “as soon as possible.” Chinese officials frequently make such appeals.
Marshal Choe, who arrived in China, North Korea’s biggest benefactor, on Wednesday on a fence-mending mission, is a close aide to North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and as such, what he says is taken relatively seriously.Marshal Choe, who arrived in China, North Korea’s biggest benefactor, on Wednesday on a fence-mending mission, is a close aide to North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and as such, what he says is taken relatively seriously.
Few diplomats believe that the North is prepared to be involved in six-party talks that aim to strip North Korea of its nuclear weapons. Such talks among the United States, North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia collapsed in 2008 after North Korea walked out. The regime has continued to persist with its nuclear weapons program ever since, despite constant pleas by China to stop. Few diplomats believe that the North is prepared to be involved in six-party talks that aim to strip North Korea of its nuclear weapons. The talks — involving the United States, North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan and Russia — collapsed in 2008 after North Korea walked out. The North has continued its nuclear weapons program, conducting its third nuclear test in February, which prompted China to sign on to United Nations sanctions. It also tested a three-stage rocket in December.
Marshal Choe, 72, was quoted by the China News Service as being “highly” appreciative of “China’s huge efforts to maintain peace and stability” on the Korean Peninsula.Marshal Choe, 72, was quoted by the China News Service as being “highly” appreciative of “China’s huge efforts to maintain peace and stability” on the Korean Peninsula.
There have been no reports so far of Marshal Choe meeting with senior Chinese officials involved in foreign policy and military affairs. The publicized meetings have been with senior officials of the Communist Party who are the usual interlocutors with North Korea. On Wednesday, Marshal Choe met with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.There have been no reports so far of Marshal Choe meeting with senior Chinese officials involved in foreign policy and military affairs. The publicized meetings have been with senior officials of the Communist Party who are the usual interlocutors with North Korea. On Wednesday, Marshal Choe met with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
The North Korean news agency said Marshal Choe visited an industrial park in Beijing on Thursday. China’s basic advice to North Korea is reform of its economy should follow the path of Deng Xiaoping with special economic zones and some private enterprise. The North Korean news agency said Marshal Choe visited an industrial park in Beijing on Thursday. China’s basic advice to North Korea is that it should reform its economy following the path of Deng Xiaoping, with special economic zones and some private enterprise.
Marshal Choe’s visit is being watched closely by North Korean experts in China. They say they detect little change in China’s underlying policy of supporting North Korea. But the Chinese leadership would like North Korea to modify its erratic behavior, stop nuclear tests and halt its missile program, they say. How to reach that goal with Mr. Kim had not been resolved, some of the experts said. North Korean experts in China say they detect little change in China’s underlying policy of supporting North Korea. But the Chinese leadership would like North Korea to modify its erratic behavior, stop nuclear tests and halt its missile program, they say. How to reach that goal with Mr. Kim had not been resolved, some of the experts said.
China should begin to treat North Korea as a normal country and should resist extremes of sheltering it or abandoning it, said Wang Gunsheng, an analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The marshal’s visit came just days after the announcement that President Xi Jingping of China and President Obama intended to meet in California next month, suggesting that the North was concerned that its strategy had pushed China and the United States closer.
Mr. Wang said the visit of Marshal Choe could be interpreted as a “kind of apology” by North Korea by China for its recent behavior, including conducting its third nuclear test in February. Wang Gunsheng, an analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the visit of Marshal Choe could be interpreted as a “kind of apology” by North Korea for its recent behavior.