Kim, Hu Discuss North Korean Reform

On his eighth day in China, North Korean leader Kim Jung Il had a summit meeting with China‘s President Hu Jintao in Beijing yesterday after visiting cities in southern China.

The two leaders discussed North Korean reforms and the possibility of market opening measures, China’s economic assistance to North Korea, the U.S. financial sanctions against North Korea, and the resumption of the six-party talks.

Citing China’s great progress toward building a modernized socialist country that he witnessed during this visit, Kim highly praised China’s reform and market opening experience. In response, Hu reaffirmed China’s willingness to actively assist North Korea if North Korea sets out on a course of reform and market opening.

Kim emphasized that North Korea remains committed to resolving its nuclear problem within the framework of the six-party talks, even though the U.S. has created the biggest obstacle to the talks by imposing financial sanctions against North Korea, accusing the country of counterfeiting U.S. dollars.

Hu also pointed out that the six-party talks are a useful instrument to resolving the nuclear crisis and expressed his understanding of North Korea’s situation regarding the currency counterfeiting issue.

According to a source in Beijing, it is likely that Hu personally confirmed North Korea’s willingness to pursue reform and market opening and to participate in the six-party talks at the meeting with Kim.

Regarding the currency counterfeiting issue, Hu is thought to have told Kim that China will announce the results of Banco Delta Asia investigation, taking North Korea’s circumstances into consideration.

Yoo-Seong Hwang yshwang@donga.com