Tang Jianxuan met Kim Jong-il

[Yonhap 2006-10-19 16:27]

Chinese Foreign Ministry said the country’s State Councilor Tang Jianxuan, who is currently visiting Pyongyang as a special envoy sent by President Hu Jiantao, met Kim Jong-il this morning to convey Hu’s message and talk about the nuclear test.

The press secretary of the ministry said in his regular press briefing that the envoy’s visit to North Korea is “very meaningful to the relations between the two countries.” He said Tang was accompanied by China’s chief nuclear negotiator Wu Dawei and Dai Bingguo, China's Executive vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

But the press secretary said it was not known what Hu’s message was, how Kim reacted to the message and whether any agreement was reached.

Experts in Beijing interpreted it was very positive that Kim met the delegates much sooner than had been expected.

[Yonhap 2006-10-19 16:40]

It is speculated that China might have given some special ‘presents’ to North Korea. North Korea’s move now depends on what China promised to offer to the regime.

Nam Sung-wook at Korea University said “Kim Jong-il will decide how to react according to what Chinese delegates brought with them,” and “if China failed to persuade North Korea, the North would probably go for a second test, and if the ‘package’ was good, the regime would refrain from doing so and go through internal review on that matter.” “China negotiates in a life-or-death manner and so does Kim Jong-il,” and “having said that, Tang’s visit to North Korea is very crucial and will mark a watershed,” he added.