US Secretary of State Christopher Hill, is set to visit Beijing to discuss reviving stalled negotiations on North Korea's nuclear program and has accused Pyongyang of boycotting mulitlateral talks on its nuclear ambitions.
Reports of a simulataneous visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to China are uncertain.
An anonymous official said that China has decided to invite Mr. Kim amid speculation that North Korea may be planning an underground nuclear test. An armored train known to be used by Mr. Kim for long travels has been spied at the border with China prompting speculation about his visit to China.
Mr. Hill said he had "no information on Kim Jong-il's travels."
Tensions have been high since early July when North Korea conducted missile tests. They are not yet thought to have tested a nuclear bomb though have admitted to nuclear capabilities.
Christopher Hill and his Japanese counterpart have agreed to work with the other partners to revive talks with North Korea, advocating concrete action to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program amid talks of North Korea planning more tests.
Mr. Hill maintained that the Us position has not changed. The September 2005 agreement which promised economic aid in exchange for Pyongyand scrapping its nuclear program is still on the floor. The agreement fell apart over disagreements on how to implement it.
International concerns were raised when North Korea launched 7 missiles in July, including a long-range weapon capable of hitting parts of the US.
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