Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - China invokes diplomacy for the "resumption of six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear program" and the "denuclearization" of Pyongyang’s military arsenal. A goal, according to Beijing, to be achieved "through dialogue", without excluding the application of the resolutions sanctioned by the United Nations over the regimes recent nuclear experiments and missile launch. A South Koreans TV, meanwhile, reports that Kim-Jong-il has a cancer of the pancreas and has no "more than five years" left to live.

Today in Seoul Wu Dawei, Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Wi Sung-lac, special South Korean representative for peace and security in the peninsula. The talks concerned the North Korean nuclear issue and possible ways to reach an agreement with Pyongyang. "What is important - said the Chinese vice-minister - is that the two sides establish open and thorough consultations."    

This morning Wu Dawei attended a working lunch with Hyun In-taek, the South Korean Minister for Unification, with whom he “shares the goal of the peninsula’s denuclearization”, to be achieved in a "peaceful means and through dialogue" .

China chairs the six-party talks on North Korean nuclear question also involving Japan, the two Koreas, Russia and the United States. In recent days the Chinese vice-minister was in Moscow, Washington and Tokyo to restart the work of diplomacy. Beijing also seems to be focusing attention on how to implement UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear tests.  

Today the South Korean broadcaster YTN television, citing intelligence sources inside China, reported that Kim Jong-il has a cancer of the pancreas. According to a group of health care professionals in Beijing, the "Dear leader" has no more “than five years” left to live. Seoul says that it has "no information" on the issue and can neither confirm nor deny the rumours.

In the summer of 2008 there was talk the North Korean dictator having suffered a stroke; the tumor was found during tests performed to determine his health conditions. Kim Jong-il, 67, has appeared in public recently on the occasion of the celebrations for the anniversary of his father Kim Il-sung. He seemed tired, aged, his face hollowed and with much less hair.  

Rumours relating to the health of the "Dear leader" restart the race for the succession to power in the Communist regime. The designated heir seems to be the third child 26 year old  Kim Jong-un, but so far, there ha been no official investiture.