N.Korean leader to visit China

N.Korean leader to visit China soon: Seoul

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is highly likely to visit China soon, South Korea's presiden-tial office said Wednesday, a move that could signal his country's return to nuclear disarmament talks.

"There is a high level of possibility that Kim Jong-il will pay a visit to China. We are closely monitoring the situation," AFP quoted South Korean presidential spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye as saying Wednesday.

The Yonhap news agency cited diplomatic sources as saying that Kim might leave as early as today or tomorrow and return before the annual meeting of North Korea's parliament April 9.

Border guards and staff at the rail station, a travel agency and a hotel in Dandong told AFP that they had no news of an impending visit.

Pyongyang's official news agency said a military delegation held a meeting Tuesday in Beijing, but did not indicate whether they were preparing for any visit.

Analysts say any trip this year would be aimed at seeking badly needed economic aid from China, and Pyongyang in return may feel bound to return to the six-nation nuclear dialogue that Beijing hosts.

North Korea quit the talks in April last year and vowed to restart production of weapons-grade plutonium. It carried out its second atomic weapon test the following month.

Pyongyang says it will not return to the nuclear dialogue until United Nations sanctions are lifted, and until the United States makes a commitment to hold talks on a formal peace treaty.

North Korea's economy is ailing and a bungled currency revaluation in November has aggravated already serious food shortages. China is its sole major ally and its most important source of food and energy.

"North Korea is currently crippled by economic difficulties; the UN sanctions have cut off external aid to the country. The problem is further compounded by its foiled currency reform; thus, the North can only turn to China for help. In the future talks, North Korea will make (arms) reductions in exchange for economic aid," said Li Haidong, a professor at the China Institutes of International Relations.

Li further pointed out that China is willing to help the North in order to convince it to return to the talks, saying, "a nuclear-armed North Korea will lead to the boost of the US military presence in Asia, which is harmful to China. China is currently focusing on the development of its domestic economy and needs a stable environment."

There has been no official statement from China about Kim's visit so far.