Visit indicates new round of activity to revive Six-Party Talks

BEIJING - The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-il met visiting Chinese Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu in Pyongyang on Monday, boosting the traditional friendship between the two neighbors.

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According to sources with the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang, Kim also held a dinner reception for Meng after the talks, which focused on a series of issues including the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Analysts see Meng's visit as part of another round of diplomatic activity by Beijing aimed at easing tension in the region and reviving the Six-Party Talks.

The DPRK and the Republic of Korea (ROK) failed to reach any agreement at working-level military talks last week, their first official bilateral meeting since the Yeonpyeong incident last November

On Sunday, Meng and his DPRK counterpart Ju Sang-song signed an agreement to step up security cooperation.

Ju noted that the Chinese delegation's visit would contribute to the development of friendly relations between the two countries.

He reiterated that the DPRK leader made two visits to China last year and a stronger traditional friendship from generation to generation is the unchanged position of the DPRK's Workers' Party and the government.

Meng expressed confidence that the DPRK would achieve success in building a prosperous country.

In another sign of China's intensified diplomatic efforts, AFP reported that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will visit the ROK next week for talks focusing on Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Yang is expected to arrive in Seoul next Wednesday, the ROK Foreign Ministry said, adding that his meeting with ROK Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan would cover security issues.

Seoul is now seeking to take Pyongyang's uranium enrichment program to the United Nations Security Council for possible further sanctions.

However, China opposes taking the issue to the Security Council, and is calling for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia through dialogue and negotiations.

But the United States and Japan say Pyongyang must first mend ties with Seoul.