Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reached out Sunday for China's help on dealing with North Korea and promoting stability in the closed country after the death of longtime leader Kim Jong-il. Noda's first official visit to Beijing would normally have centered on bilateral issues, such as squabbles over islands claimed by both countries, but the death of Kim on Dec. 17 and the announcement of his son Kim Jong-un as the country's “supreme leader” has shifted the focus. Noda, the first foreign leader to meet with China's leaders since Kim's death, emphasized the need to get stalled six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program back on track. “We are currently facing a new situation in East Asia,” Noda told reporters after mentioning Kim's death. “On this issue, it is very timely to exchange views with the host of the six-party talks and the country with the most influence on North Korea,” he said, referring to China. “Safeguarding the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula is in the common interest of our two countries.” Noda was speaking before meeting with his counterpart, Wen Jiabao. He meets with President Hu Jintao on Monday before returning home. The six-party talks, which also include the two Koreas, the United States and Russia, are aimed at disarming North Korea of its nuclear capability. Pyongyang walked out on the talks in 2009 — and exploded a second nuclear-test device.
