North Korea is marking the 64th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party with calls to unite around leader Kim Jong-il as regional powers push Pyongyang to disable its nuclear programs. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who met with South Korean and Japanese leaders in Beijing Saturday, said Kim is showing flexibility and the three countries should “seize the opportunity” to make progress on disarming Pyongyang. The summit came days after Kim told Wen that North Korea is ready to rejoin the disarmament talks, depending on progress in its negotiations with Washington. The anniversary of the Worker's Party – the only party to rule North Korea since the peninsula split – is a major holiday in North Korea.
