North Korean leader Kim Jong Il visited the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang on Saturday, North Korean state media reported, as efforts continued to salvage stalled negotiations over the North's nuclear programs, reported ap. Kim visited at the request of Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming, and the Chinese envoy «conveyed the regards» of Chinese President Hu Jintao, the Korean Central News Agency reported. The two had «a cordial and friendly talk,» KCNA said. It did not elaborate on their discussions. The Chinese ambassador then hosted a banquet for Kim, KCNA said. High-level North Korean officials accompanied Kim, including Kim Kyok Sik, chief of the general staff of the North's military, and First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju, KCNA said. Kim occasionally visits the Chinese mission. His last known visit there was on March 4 last year. The visit came amid efforts to move forward the stalled talks on the North's nuclear program, involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan. Earlier Saturday, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the lead U.S. negotiator at the six-nation talks, arrived in Beijing for discussions on breaking the deadlock. A U.S. State Department official earlier said Hill might meet with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Kye Gwan, but the U.S. Embassy said there were no meetings scheduled. Hill was due to meet Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Daiwei during the one-day trip. North Korea's denuclearization process has reached a deadlock, with Washington accusing Pyongyang of not fully disclosing its nuclear programs under an aid-for-disarmament agreement struck last year. North Korea claims it gave the U.S. a list of its nuclear programs, but Washington says Pyongyang never produced a «complete and correct» declaration.
