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| Chinese premier in N Korea visit | Chinese premier in N Korea visit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has arrived in North Korea for a visit expected to focus on the reclusive nation's nuclear ambitions. | |
| Mr Wen will spending three days in Pyongyang, during which time he is expected to meet leader Kim Jong-il. | Mr Wen will spending three days in Pyongyang, during which time he is expected to meet leader Kim Jong-il. |
| Regional neighbours and the US hope his visit will help persuade North Korea to return to six-party nuclear talks. | Regional neighbours and the US hope his visit will help persuade North Korea to return to six-party nuclear talks. |
| North Korea withdrew from the talks in April and conducted a second nuclear test in May, raising regional tensions. | North Korea withdrew from the talks in April and conducted a second nuclear test in May, raising regional tensions. |
| China's foreign minister and Beijing's delegate to the six-party talks are accompanying Mr Wen on what state media called the "goodwill visit". | China's foreign minister and Beijing's delegate to the six-party talks are accompanying Mr Wen on what state media called the "goodwill visit". |
| 'Resolve problems' | |
| China hosts the six-party talks, which also involve the US, South Korea, Japan and Russia. | China hosts the six-party talks, which also involve the US, South Korea, Japan and Russia. |
| It is North Korea's biggest trading partner and holds the greatest sway over the communist regime - which has in recent weeks indicated it could resume talks. | It is North Korea's biggest trading partner and holds the greatest sway over the communist regime - which has in recent weeks indicated it could resume talks. |
| Last month, Chinese state media reported that Mr Kim had told a visiting Chinese envoy he was willing to hold dialogue on the nuclear issue and "resolve the relevant problems through bilateral and multilateral talks". | |
| Pyongyang has long sought direct talks with the US, which had until recently said negotiation should be via the six-party structure. | Pyongyang has long sought direct talks with the US, which had until recently said negotiation should be via the six-party structure. |
| Washington now appears to have modified its stance on bilateral talks somewhat in the hope of bringing North Korea back to the multilateral forum. | Washington now appears to have modified its stance on bilateral talks somewhat in the hope of bringing North Korea back to the multilateral forum. |
| North Korea agreed in February 2007 to abandon its nuclear programme in return for aid and political concessions | North Korea agreed in February 2007 to abandon its nuclear programme in return for aid and political concessions |
| It shut down its main reactor at Yongbyon in June 2007, but talks then became deadlocked over the issue of how its declaration of nuclear assets could be verified by its negotiating partners. | It shut down its main reactor at Yongbyon in June 2007, but talks then became deadlocked over the issue of how its declaration of nuclear assets could be verified by its negotiating partners. |
| Pyongyang then grew more belligerent, carrying out what its neighbours believe was a long-range missile test and then its second nuclear test. | Pyongyang then grew more belligerent, carrying out what its neighbours believe was a long-range missile test and then its second nuclear test. |