Op-Ed Contributors

Mixed signals from Kim's visit

By Zhang Liangui (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-12 07:54

DPRK leader's trip raises hopes about resumption of Six-Party Talks even as its timing leaves many guessing

The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-il's five-day trip to China was officially made known by state media on both sides only after he had wrapped up the visit.

The nature of the visit had aroused keen speculation even as the global media gave detailed reports about every stop in Kim's tour itinerary.

In fact, the visit from May 3 to 7 turned out to be an open secret.

In February, China officially invited Kim Jong-il, the chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK, to visit the nation again at his convenience.

This indicated that Beijing did not want the visit to be seen as veiled in secrecy. It also showed that China had prepared well in advance to receive Kim at any time.

From the perspective of international relations, Pyongyang showed high political wisdom in the timing of this unofficial visit.

First, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference was taking place at the United Nation's (UN) headquarters in New York on May 3, the same day that Kim began his tour of China.

The conference was represented by more than 140 countries and regions jointly upholding the authority of, and strengthening the NPT framework.

This conference, together with the first nuclear safety summit held last month in Washington, which saw participation by 47 heads of state and international organizations, indicates that the international community has realized that issues concerning nuclear proliferation and nuclear safety have become real threats to human survival.