N. Korea welcomes Chinese official's visit

North Korea has told Beijing that it would welcome a visit by the Chinese Communist Party's number two official any time after October 20, a sign Pyongyang may be willing to resolve a crisis surrounding its nuclear arms programme, diplomatic sources said yesterday.

A diplomatic source in Tokyo, speaking on condition of anonymity, said North Korea had given the green light for a visit by Wu Bangguo, head of China's parliament.

He would be the most senior Chinese official to go to North Korea since then-president Jiang Zemin visited in 2001.

"Considering the level of the Chinese delegate, it is natural for us to presume something positive would be forthcoming," another diplomatic source said.

It was not clear why North Korea wanted Wu, who visited Japan and North Korea last month, to fly to Pyongyang only after October 20.

Wu had originally planned to visit Pyongyang for three days from September 25, the first source said. But North Korea told China two days before that date that his trip should be called off indefinitely, without giving any clear reason, he added.

A third diplomatic source with close ties to North Korea said Wu would probably accept Pyongyang's fresh invitation.

"But the timing of his visit has not been fixed yet and the two sides are still working on the visit," the source said.

If Wu visits Pyongyang, he will probably meet top North Korean officials including leader Kim Jong-il for talks on the North's nuclear ambitions, the second diplomatic source said.

He added that Wu's visit to the North Korean capital could open the way for a breakthrough in the tense standoff between North Korea and the United States over Pyongyang's nuclear arms programme.

"We believe Wu's visit, if realised, would focus on issues related to North Korea's nuclear programme," he said.

China, North Korea's main ally and neighbour, has played a key role in mediating over the standoff in an effort to persuade Pyongyang to ditch its nuclear arms programme.

The United States, China, Russia, South Korea and Japan are seeking to draw Pyongyang back to the negotiating table for more talks on ending the nuclear programme. The six countries held an inconclusive first round of talks in Beijing in August.