North Korea's premier on Tuesday began a visit to China amid U.S. urging for Beijing to use its influence to prod the North back into nuclear talks _ and American hints of possible sanctions if Pyongyang doesn't cooperate. Chinese officials say they will discuss the nuclear standoff with Premier Pak Pong Ju. A Foreign Ministry spokesman appealed to participants in the six-nation talks to "support the process," but didn't give any details of what Chinese leaders will tell Pak. "The six-party talks are the best and most realistic vehicle to peacefully resolve this issue through dialogue," said spokesman Liu Jianchao. Beijing also apparently plans to use the visit to lobby the North to speed up tentative Chinese-style reforms in its decrepit, centrally planned economy. At his first stop, Pak took a 20-minute tour of a Nokia Corp. mobile phone factory. He signed a guest book offering "wishes of prosperity for the communications industry." Pak met with Premier Wen Jiabao at the Great Hall of the People, where he also signed bilateral agreements on investment and environmental protection, state television said. Pak was also scheduled to meet President Hu Jintao and other Chinese officials. His trip includes a stop in Shanghai, the country's financial capital. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said this month that the North expressed willingness to return to talks. But he didn't say whether leader Kim Jong Il's government had attached any conditions. --more 1506 Local Time 1206 GMT
