Chinese President Hu Jintao asked U.S. President Bush to let U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill visit North Korea, but was rejected, according to a Kyodo News source from Beijing on June 9.
Through a telephone conversation with President Bush on June 1, the Chinese leader made a request that the U.S. take into consideration North Koreas invitation to Hill for a visit to Pyongyang, reported Kyodo News.
Regarding this matter, the U.S. president replied that the U.S. will not engage in any discussion beyond the boundary of six-party talks and turned down the Chinese leaders request.
Kyodo News pointed out that, despite the urging from the head of China, a member of the six-party talks, because Hills visit to North Korea suffered a setback, the resumption of the talks, which had been suspended since last November, now faces greater uncertainty.