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(2nd LD) China hopes N. Korea to heed calls for denuclearization

All News 18:17 May 06, 2016

(ATTN: ADDS media report on absence of Chinese delegation in last 2 paras)
By Kim Deok-hyun

BEIJING, May 6 (Yonhap) -- China on Friday voiced hope that North Korea could heed calls by the international community to abandon its nuclear ambition, as the North is holding a rare congress of its ruling Workers' Party.

"North Korea is at an important stage of national development. We hope that North Korea can achieve national development," China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters.

"We also hope that North Korea can heed the calls of the international community and work with us to maintain peace and stability of Northeast Asia," Hong said.

Hong also repeated that he had "no relevant information" on whether China sent a delegation to the North Korean congress.

Earlier in the day, a newspaper controlled by China's ruling Communist Party said in an editorial that North Korea is unlikely to chart a different course on its nuclear weapons program at its key party congress.

The state-run Global Times newspaper, however, voiced cautious hope that North Korea may conduct a "pragmatic analysis" of its policy of pursuing both nuclear advances and economic development.

North Korea kicked off its first party congress in 36 years on Friday, which is expected to display the North Korean regime's unity toward leader Kim Jong-un.

In the editorial, the Chinese newspaper described the North Korean congress as "an overall, official start to Kim Jong-un's era."

"The congress will present the new leadership of the nation, who are believed to be younger and will suit Kim's era better," it said.

Kim, who took power following the death of his father Kim Jong-Il in December 2011, is widely expected to use the rare congress as a venue to solidify his reign and show his credentials for his policy of simultaneously pursuing economic development and nuclear weapons.

Political ties between North Korea and China remain soured because of the North's defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons. China backed tougher U.N. sanctions following the North's fourth nuclear test in January.

"The outcome of sticking to nuclear development is very complicated. It has brought Pyongyang far more negative effects on its security than it may have predicted when it initiated its nuclear weapons program in the early years," the editorial reads.

"Policymakers in the country must have realized how serious the issue is, and raised strategies to develop both the economy and nuclear technology at the same time. We may see how they have decided to resolve the contradictions between the two during this conference," it said.

"It is not realistic to expect North Korea to make abrupt changes. The nation is also unlikely to stay exactly the same," it said.

"It has a strong desire to get rid of its long-term isolation and sluggish economy, yet in the meantime, it is confused as to how to take the first step. It is believed that there will be pragmatic analysis during this meeting," it said.

In a separate report, the Global Times newspaper reported that Chinese delegates were absent from the North Korean party congress.

Diplomatic sources in Beijing have said China was not invited to the North Korean congress, in a potential sign of the soured political ties. China sent a vice premier to North Korea's party congress in 1980.

kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)

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