Hu Jintao Likely to Visit North Korea in November

On March 23, it was disclosed that during a call from North Korean Cabinet Minister Park Bong Ju, who is currently visiting Beijing, Chinese President Hu Jintao emphasized the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and its peaceful settlement and strongly pressed North Korea’s early return to the six-party talks.

Concerning this, it was mentioned that Minister Park repeated the principle position he declared to Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao the day before. The contents of the personal letter National Defense Committee Chairman Kim Jong Il addressed to President Hu were unverifiable. Some observed that there is a possibility that the letter contains Chairman Kim’s wish of President Hu returning the visit.

A source in Beijing forecasted, “President Hu’s concrete plans and a time for visiting North Korea will be discussed through diplomatic channels between the two countries,” and added, “If the six-party talks resume, he might visit North Korea before participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting held in November in Busan.”

Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com