BEIJING - Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-il said the DPRK advocates that the six-party talks on Korean Peninsula nuclear issue be resumed at an early time.

Kim, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and chairman of the National Defense Commission of the DPRK, made the remarks during talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing.

Kim paid an unofficial visit to China from May 20 to 26 as guest of Hu, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Hu said China spoke positively of DPRK's efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and improve external environment.

China maintains that related parties should continuously hold high the banner of safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization, remain clam and restrained, show flexibility, remove obstacles, improve relations and make positive efforts to ultimately accomplish peace, stability and development on the peninsula, Hu said.

Kim said the DPRK is now concentrating its attention and resources on economic development, and it is in great need of a stable neighboring environment.

Kim said the DPRK hopes to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, sticks to the objective of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and believes that the six-party talks should be resumed at an early date.

Kim said the DPRK, as always, sincerely hopes relations between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (ROK) could be improved.

Launched in 2003, the six-party talks involved China, the DPRK, the United States, the ROK, Japan and Russia. The talks have been suspended since December 2008.

Kim said the DPRK appreciates China's efforts on pushing for the resumption of the six-party talks and safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.