NKorea tones down war rhetoric, agrees for six-party talks

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Press Trust of India Beijing
Last Updated : May 24 2013 | 9:36 PM IST
After escalating tensions with high level rhetoric, North Korea today said it is ready to resolve relevant issues through multiform dialogue and consultation, including the six-party talks with China, its closest ally, insisting on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.
Meeting for the for the first time a top North Korean official, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's stance of denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula stressing that targets should be met by all parties involved no matter how the situation evolves.
In his meeting with Choe Ryong Hae, the special envoy of Kim Jong Un, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Xi stressed that denuclearisation and long-lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are common aspirations shared by all people in the region.
"China has a very clear position concerning the issue that all the parties involved should stick to the objective of denuclearization, safeguard the peace and stability on the peninsula, and resolve disputes through dialogue and consultation," Xi stressed according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.
He called on all parties concerned to remain calm and with restraint, ease the situation and restart the process of the six-party talks, in a bid to achieve denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and safeguard peace and stability in Northeast Asia.
The six parties included South and North Korea, US, China, Russia and Japan.
While rejecting calls by North Korea to recongise it as a nuclear power, US said it is willing to hold talks through six party mechanism.
Choe said it is the sincere wish of the DPRK to create a peaceful external environment to develop its economy and improve people's livelihood.
"The DPRK is ready to work with parties concerned to properly solve relevant issues through multiform dialogue and consultation, including the six-party talks," Choe said.
This is the first time North Korea expressed such a with after months of threats to carry out the most violent strikes against South Korea and US.
During the meeting, Choe passed on a letter from Kim Jong Un to Xi.
He said the DPRK is willing to adopt active moves to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
Xi and Choe also discussed China-North Korean ties, which showed signs of tensions in the recent months between very close neighbours with official media here calling for teaching a lesson to Pyongyang for not heeding Beijing's calls for toning down the rhetoric.
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First Published: May 24 2013 | 9:36 PM IST

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