Chinese official Wang visiting N. Korea: state media

By Kim Hyun

SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) -- A senior Chinese official, Wang Jiarui, is visiting North Korea, Pyongyang's media said Wednesday, in a closely watched trip coinciding with the inauguration of the new U.S. administration.

Wang's visit also raises the possibility North Korean leader Kim Jong-il may
appear to greet a foreign guest for the first time since he reportedly suffered a
stroke last summer.
"A delegation from the international liaison department of the central committee
of China's Communist Party, headed by department chief Wang Jiarui, arrived in
Pyongyang on Jan. 21," Korean Central TV Broadcasting Station and other state-run
media said in a short statement, without elaborating on the schedule or purpose
of his rare visit.
Wang's arrival comes at a very sensitive time in North Korea. Pyongyang has been
waiting for the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama as an opportunity to
start anew with Washington and push forward a stalled aid-for-denuclearization
deal. The North's official Korean Central News Agency quickly announced Obama's
inauguration on Wednesday evening, less than 24 hours after the ceremony.
In his swearing-in ceremony, the new U.S. president vowed to "work tirelessly to
lessen the nuclear threat" with allies and foes. Obama had said during his
election campaign that he is willing to meet the North Korean leader to help
terminate the North's nuclear weapons program.
The six-party denuclearization talks, which also include South Korea, China,
Japan and Russia, are in limbo until Obama officially rolls out his North Korea
policy.
Wang has met the North's reclusive leader on all his recent visits, which usually
coincided with important events in North Korea. They met in January 2004, shortly
before Kim's visit to China, and again in February 2005, shortly after North
Korea declared its possession of nuclear weapons. Wang's latest trip was in
January 2008.
"Considering his position, it is possible for Wang to meet Chairman Kim Jong-il,
and he will be able to check his health condition," Paik Hak-soon, a senior
fellow with Sejong Institute, an independent think tank in Seoul, said.
"But what is more important is the timing of Wang's visit. He is expected to
deliver Beijing's message -- that it is much more optimistic with the Obama
administration than Bush's, and that it'd be in North Korea's interest to
cooperate in the nuclear negotiations," Paik said.
In an apparent message to Obama, North Korea said last week it would hold onto
its nuclear weapons until it feels safe from the U.S. military stationed in South
Korea.
"When the U.S. nuclear threat is removed and south Korea is cleared of its
nuclear umbrella, we will also feel no need to keep nuclear weapons," the North's
foreign ministry spokesman said.
The Choson Sinbo, a pro-Pyongyang newspaper in Japan, said on Tuesday that North
Korea "is not rejecting" denuclearization with last week's statement. Pyongyang
is "clarifying conditions that need to be met for it to abandon its nuclear
weapons," the commentary said.
Meanwhile, North Korea's Workers' Party held a reception for Wang, the North's
Korean Central News Agency said. There was no word about Kim's appearance, with
the event hosted by Choe Thae-bok, secretary of the Workers' Party central
committee.
Kim has not appeared to the foreign media since he reportedly suffered a stroke
in August. Kim's health has drawn keen attention as it is bound to a power
succession in the communist state. The leader turns 67 next month.