N.K. Kim Young Nam: “Hostile U.S. Policies against NK Must be Dropped”

Kim Young Nam, North Korea’s president of the Presidium of the Supreme People`s Assembly, visited China on October 18 to meet with Wu Bangguo, the chairman of the National People`s Congress, to discuss the North Korean nuclear issues and strengthening measures of mutual economic cooperation.

Both North Korea and China have established diplomatic ties for the 55th year. During President Kim Young Nam’s four-day goodwill visit to China, he stressed that it will be hard to solve the nuclear crisis if the U.S. continues with its hostile economic policy’s against North Korea. It is reported that Chairman Wu persuaded North Korea to participate in the upcoming six-way talks, explaining the itinerary report from Korea, the U.S., and Japan, collected by Ning Fukui, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s ambassador of Korean affairs.

Kim Young Nam is expected to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on October 19. It is reported that during his meeting with President Hu, he will send the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s message to ask the president Hu to visit Pyongyang sometime during the first half of next year.

Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com