Kim Jong-il tells parties to follow through on nuclear pledges
‘Dear leader’ uses conciliatory comments in his meeting with Chinese foreign minister. He mentions easing of tensions on the peninsula and calls for following through on pledges with regard to February agreement on supplying fuel to North Korea. IAIE plans a visit to Yongbyon.

Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il has called on all parties involved in the nuclear disarmament deal to follow through on their pledges, China's official Xinhua news agency reports. The ‘dear Leader’ spoke during a meeting with China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Mr Yang completed a three-day visit to North Korea during which he conveyed a personal message from Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Kim said there have been some "signs of easing" of tensions on the peninsula and that “all sides should implement the initial actions”, Xinhua reports.

He was referring to the six-nation agreement of February 13 whereby North Korea would get fuel supplies in exchange for shutting down its controversial Yongbyon nuclear rector. The six nations are the United States, China, Japan, Russia, North Korea and South Korea.

Pyongyang and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have agreed on measures to shutdown North Korea’s nuclear facilities.

The IAEA outlined the steps its inspectors had agreed with Pyongyang during a visit last week.