PYONGYANG, North Korea, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- China's friendship with North Korea will reach new heights this year, its ambassador to Pyongyang said.
Speaking at a reception for journalists from the two countries, Chinese Ambassador Liu Xiaoming said cooperative relations helped boost the friendship between the two countries, Xinhua reported.
China, which along with the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan, is involved in the talks for the denuclearization of the North. The so-called six-nation talks are currently stalled. Pyongyang pulled out last April because of U.N. sanctions but efforts are continuing to persuade the North to return to the process.
Liu said China would continue to boost bilateral exchanges and work for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, Xinhua reported.
On the denuclearization issue, Liu said there was some progress toward restarting the six-party talks, and said it should be realized through dialogue and negotiation.
