DPRK PREMIER'S VISIT TO CHINA: SIX-PARTY TALKS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000780

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2034
TAGS: PREL PGOV KN CH KS
SUBJECT: DPRK PREMIER'S VISIT TO CHINA: SIX-PARTY TALKS,
MISSILE LAUNCH AND RESPONSE, HUMANITARIAN AID

Classified By: Deputy Political Section Chief Ben Moeling. Reasons 1.4
(b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C) DPRK Premier Kim Yong-il made the rounds of China's
top leaders during his March 17-21 visit and addressed
"regional and international issues," according to an MFA
readout. Post-visit official platitudes highlighted both
countries' aspirations to "achieve more progress" in the
Six-Party Talks, and an MFA official acknowledged that
Chinese leaders discussed with Kim the DPRK's plans to launch
a "satellite" in early April. Chinese VFM Wu Dawei and
Japanese Six-Party Talks envoy Akitaka Saiki separately
discussed the issue of a launch, without coming to agreement.
The Japanese floated the idea of a preemptive UN statement,
at which Wu balked, countering that if North Korea were to
launch a satellite, the international community's response
should be "measured." The Chinese also proposed a Six-Party
Talks plenary meeting after a brief "breathing period" in the
event of a launch. The MFA official said China would provide
humanitarian aid to North Korea in 2009, but that it would be
"no different from previous years." End Summary.

China Promotes Six-Party Talks Progress
--------------


2. (C) DPRK Premier Kim Yong-il visited China March 17-21 to
help mark the 60th anniversary of Sino-DPRK ties and to
celebrate the designation of 2009 as the year of Sino-DPRK
friendship, said MFA Asia Department DPRK, ROK and Mongolia
Division Deputy Director Bao Xuhui during a March 25 briefing
for the U.S., Japanese, Singapore and European Union member
embassies. Kim began his visit in Jinan, the capital of
Shandong province, where he met with provincial Communist
Party officials and toured a greenhouse. In Beijing, Kim met
with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and National
People's Congress (NPC) Chairman Wu Bangguo. Wen raised four
suggestions to strengthen Sino-DPRK cooperation: 1) continue
high-level exchanges; 2) promote economic and trade
cooperation; 3) increase cultural exchanges; and 4)
strengthen bilateral coordination on major international and
regional issues.


3. (C) Bao said China and North Korea hoped to "achieve more
progress" in the Six-Party Talks. The talks were an
effective mechanism which would lead to the eventual
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the
establishment of a regional security architecture. China
urged the Six Parties to push for progress in realizing the
September 19, 2005 Joint Statement. On verification, Bao
said that discussions had stalled but urged all parties to
promote progress on the issue. North Korea agreed to listen
to Chinese views and expressed willingness to cooperate with
China on regional and international issues, according to Bao.


China and DPRK Exchange Views on Satellite Launch
-------------- --------------


4. (C) Kim told the Chinese that North Korea had a right to
the peaceful development and use of space-related technology
and had announced its plan to launch a communications
satellite in early April to "the relevant international
organizations," according to Bao. A successful satellite
launch would provide a technical boost to North Korea's space
capabilities, Kim continued. Bao reiterated to the assembled
diplomats Chinese views on North Korea's proposed satellite
launch, saying that China had "noted" DPRK preparations to
launch a satellite and "urges relevant parties to work
together to maintain peace and stability on the Korean
Peninsula." According to Bao, Kim "fully understood" China's
position and said he would report back to DPRK leaders. Bao
said he had no information on whether North Korea had invited
foreign observers to view the launch.


5. (C) In response to a question about whether China and
North Korea had discussed a possible international community
response to a launch, including the possibility of a UN
Security Council Resolution on North Korea, Bao replied that
China "had noted" recent UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
statements that a missile or satellite launch by North Korea
would be a violation of UNSC Resolution 1718. Bao urged
relevant parties to have a "cautious attitude" and to adopt a
"wait and see" attitude regarding the launch.

China Urges "Measured" Response to Satellite Launch
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6. (C) Separately, Japanese Embassy Political Counselor
Hiroyuki Namazu told PolOff on March 24 that Japanese MOFA
Six-Party Talks envoy Akitaka Saiki had discussed a possible
launch with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on March

23. Namazu said that Saiki sought Wu's support for a
Japanese proposal favoring a preemptive statement at the UN
opposing any planned DPRK missile launch. Wu did not embrace
the suggestion. Wu urged caution and told Saiki that all
parties would have to watch and see what North Korea does.
If the DPRK were to launch a missile, it would be important
to know whether it was launching a satellite, Wu said. Wu
told Saiki that he had attended some of the recent meetings
Chinese officials had with DPRK Premier Kim and that Kim had
noted in those exchanges North Korea's desire to develop a
communications satellite capability. Wu suggested that the
international community's response to any launch should be
"measured." He agreed that there would have to be a
"breathing period" in the Six-Party Talks in response to a
launch but advocated that that period should be brief and
that there should be a plenary meeting, or at least a meeting
of "a couple of" the working groups, "soon."

Free Aid to North Korea?
--------------


7. (C) Regarding a February 4 North Korean report that China
had offered "free aid" to the DPRK during Chinese Communist
Party International Liaison Department (CCID) Director Wang
Jiarui's January visit to Pyongyang, Bao said that China had
a tradition of providing aid to its neighbor and would
continue to provide "as much humanitarian assistance as it
could." This year, China would provide aid to help North
Korea overcome some difficulties and help improve the lives
of its people, but it would be "no different from previous
years." Bao declined to specify the amount or type of aid
that China provided to North Korea.

Kim Jong-il Visit to China?
--------------


8. (C) When asked about media reports that Kim Jong-il might
visit China this year, Bao said that China and the DPRK have
a tradition of high-level exchanges. Premier Kim Yong-il had
extended invitations to Premier Wen and Chairman Wu to visit
North Korea. China had also conveyed an invitation to Kim
Jong-il to visit China, said Bao. On a separate note, when
asked whether Kim and Chinese leaders discussed the topic of
North Korean leadership transition, Bao replied, "this is a
state sec ret for North Korea."
PICCUTA