China Promised NK Support of $25 Million

In the November 29 Beijing dispatch, Tokyo Shimbun reported that China had disclosed its intention to offer $25 million in support free of reimbursement, in order to help North Korea’s economic reformation.

When the Chinese executive of National People’s Representative Committee, U Banguo, visited North Korea in late October, he promised the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, this amount of money as financial support. Kim, after receiving this proposal, displayed a positive attitude towards resuming the six-way talks, added Tokyo Shimbun.

It has been known that the support from China will be used to establish a glass manufacturing factory in North Korea.

According to this proposal, North Korea passed on its standpoint to China that if the U.S. guarantees its safety in a document, it will suggest an entirely new plan, including categorically abandoning its nuclear development plan, reported Mainichi Shimbun on Sunday.

The North Korean deputy foreign minister, Kim Young-il, who visited China from November 22 to 24, suggested this standpoint of North Korea when he met with Wang Ii, the Chinese deputy foreign minister.

The new suggestion is for the U.S. and North Korea to reach each other’s goal, guaranteeing the safety of North Korea and the abandonment of the nuclear development plan “step by step simultaneously,” added Mainichi.

parkwj@donga.com