Following Wednesday's test-firing of
missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) the US
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill arrived early Friday
morning in Beijing for talks.
"I don't have much to say right now," Hill told reporters at the
airport.
Hill, who is also chief US negotiator to the six-party talks on the
Korean nuclear issue, is scheduled to meet with China's Vice
Foreign Minister Wu Dawei to discuss how to promote the six party
talks in light of the current situation, according to information
from Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday that a
DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman had confirmed that missiles had
been tested.
During a phone conversation between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart President
George W. Bush on Thursday evening Hu told Bush that China was
committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean
Peninsula and opposed to any actions which may intensify the
issue.
"With such a complicated situation it's necessary for all the
involved parties to keep calm and show restraint," Hu said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2006)