Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=10/29/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CHINA-NORTH KOREA (S-L Combo)

NUMBER=2-309169

BYLINE=LUIS RAMIREZ

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: China's number two leader arrived in North Korea Wednesday amid continuing efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. V-O-A's Luis Ramirez reports from Beijing.

TEXT: The leader of China's parliament, Wu Bangguo is in Pyongyang, heading a state delegation.

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Chinese government spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue says the group visiting Pyongyang includes a number of high-level political and military officials.

///BEGIN OPT///Mr. Wu is the most senior Chinese official to visit North Korea in more than two years. ///END OPT///

Although the Chinese government is calling it simply a goodwill visit, analysts say the delegation is expected to push Pyongyang to attend another round of six-way talks aimed at ending the North Korean nuclear crisis.

China brokered an earlier round of talks that brought together officials from China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia, and the United States. That meeting, held in Beijing in August, ended with no breakthrough. ///BEGIN OPT///All sides agreed to meet at a future date, but no timeline was set. South Korean officials this week said they hope the talks will resume by mid-December. ///END OPT///

Since the conclusion of the August talks, North Korea has repeatedly threatened to continue developing its nuclear weapons program.

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China is North Korea's closest ally and North Korea's chief supplier of food and fuel. Analysts say Beijing thus remains in the best position to influence North Korea. (Signed)

NEB/HK/LR/MEM