International sanctions and North Korea’s disastrous currency reform have plunged the country’s economy into its deepest crisis. North Korean leaders can no longer delay giving up the bomb. Pyongyang’s envoy is in Beijing for talks.

Pyongyang (AsiaNews/Agencies) – North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il pledged to get rid of his nuclear arsenal, which is the main stumbling block to lift foreign sanctions and breathe new life in his country’s economy. However, even though the ‘dear leader’ has time and again made and then broken his promises, this time the trip by his top nuclear envoy to Beijing could bode well for stalled disarmament talks.

Analysts said that pressure has been mounting because of UN sanctions imposed after its nuclear test last year, as well as a botched currency reform that is crushing the population.

Xinhua reported that Kim reiterated his country's "persistent stance to realise the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula,” a necessary step for China, North Korea’s only trading partner, which appears to be no longer willing to put with Kim’s antics.

Yesterday in fact, Pyongyang’s top nuclear envoy Kim Kye-gwan arrived in the Chinese capital. His presence might be the prelude to the resumption of six-nation talks (including China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States), cut short last year by North Korea’s nuclear test.

• north
• south
• korea
• kim
• jon-il
• china
• talks
• nculear
• programme
• economy
• disaster
• china