North Korea Expected to Be Focus of Japan-China Meeting
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a two-day state visit originally aimed at improving bilateral ties, but now expected to focus on the uncertainty over North Korea’s intentions after the death of Kim Jong-il.
Speaking before he left Tokyo for China, Mr. Noda told reporters that he planned “to exchange views and information in detail so as to avert a harmful effect on peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
Mr. Noda was expected to ask the Chinese government to try and revive the dormant six-party talks on dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program, Japan’s Kyodo news service reported.
But his influence may be limited: in office only since September, Mr. Noda’s diplomatic skills are mostly untested, and China has conspicuously thrown its support behind North Korea and Mr. Kim’s son and designated successor, Kim Jong-un.
full; http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/world/asia/prime-minister-yoshihiko-noda-of-japan-visits-beijing.html
