Wu Bangguo, “We’ll Discuss the Current Issues Including Nuclear Weapons”

Wu Bangguo, the second highest ranked government official of China and the chairman of China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, arrived in Pyongyang with large-scale delegates on October 29. Pyongyang Broadcasting reported that Kim Young-nam, the chairman of North Korea’s Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Congress, greeted Chairman Wu at the airport on the same day.

Upon arrival, Chairman Wu said, “We will discuss about our mutual interests and the improvement of North Korea-China relations (with the North Korean administration).” However, he didn’t reveal the details. He merely appreciated North Korea, saying “On their own way of socialism, North Korea has performed remarkable achievements in the construction of the society under socialism. The improvement in the relationship with South Korea and the expansion of the trade with foreign countries deserves the respect of the North Korean people.”

As the highest-level official to visit North Korea since the Hu Jintao administration commenced, Chairman Wu will meet North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il and suggest various ways of documentation about the multilateral security guarantee, which President George W. Bush of the U.S. had offered to the North Korean government, reported Japanese newspapers.

Furthermore, Mainichi Shinbun reported that Zeng Peiyen, vice premier of State Council (for the economic affairs) will guarantee the aid, including food and energy, and Wang Yi, assistant minister of Foreign Affairs, who was the chief representative of China in the first six-party talk, will negotiate the resumption of the six-party talks before the end of this year. Mainichi Shinbun interpreted that because high-level Chinese officials is visiting North Korea and guaranteeing aid, the goal is to draw the concession of North Korea on the nuclear issue.

The scale of Chinese delegates to North Korea is the largest ever since former President Jiang Zemin in September of 2001, who brought with him seven deputy minister-level officials.

Nihon Geizai Shinbun reported that if this visit earns satisfactory achievements, China will send Dai Bingguo, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, to South Korea and Japan. in mid-November to discuss about the schedule of next six-party talks and the way of the documentation about the security guarantee.

parkwj@donga.com