North Korea Seeks Talks, Experts' Views Mixed

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　　China and North Korea are holding the first strategic dialogue on Wednesday in Beijing regarding tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

 

　　But whether these talks will be able to make denuclearizing the peninsula a possibility? Answers remain mixed.

 

　　He Fei reports.

 

　　Despite a hard stance so far, it was North Korea who proposed these talks here with China, with another talks proposed between Pyongyang and the United States later on the same issue.

 

　　Many feel that after wide condemnation¹ for the nuclear test at the beginning of the year, these talks are a signal from North Korea wanting to create a favorable environment for itself on the international arena².

 

　　The discussions in Beijing are co-chaired by China's Vice³ Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui and North Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan.

 

　　Zhang Liangui is a professor from the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and he expects the dialogue will help facilitate the denuclearization of Korean Peninsula.

 

　　"Kim Kye Gwan is the leading delegates from North Korea attending the six-party talks and has long been involved in diplomatic activities concerning the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, which is inevitably⁴ a topic on the top of his agenda in China. North Korea and China can exchange views on this issue through the strategic dialogue, which would have valuable outcome for further development."

 

　　China hasn't been the only one to receive a call from Pyongyang though, with Japan, South Korea as well as the United States receiving discussion proposals.

 

　　But some analysts⁵ say the gesture is just out of North Korea's need to develop its economy, but not a positive sign of the country dropping its nuclear program.

 

　　Piao Jianyi, chief of the Center of Korean Peninsula Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, is one of them.

 

　　"North Korea demands economic development. But in a world economic system controlled by the US, if the North constantly standing⁶ opposite with the US, it would be hazardous⁷ to its economy. So North Korea needs to talk, and before its talk with the US, it is necessary to have a high level talk with China."

 

　　But far from abandoning nuclear programs, Professor Zhang Liangui says the diplomatic measures from North Korea actually show that they are pursuing the status of a nuclear power themselves.

 

　　"Overall, North Korea's diplomatic approach is to ease tensions with other countries on the premise⁸ of its holding nuclear weapon, to push other countries through dialogues to admit its status as a nuclear body. It is not the diplomatic style for the North to compromise under international pressure."

 

　　The talks also come ahead of South Korean President Park Geun-hye's visit to Beijing.

 

　　And a trilateral meeting is also reportedly due to be held by the US, Japan and South Korea in Washington.

 

　　But whether those talks are able to achieve a resumption of the 6 party talks which North Korea abandoned in 2009, remains⁹ to be seen.

 

　　For CRI, this is He Fei.

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