BEIJING, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- North Korea told China Friday it would agree to hold the next session of six-nation talks on its nuclear arms development early next year.
China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi secured the agreement from North Korea during a visit to the country on Thursday and Friday.
Japan's Kyodo news service reported he met with North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan to discuss restarting the talks with China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States, and exchange views on other issues.
The first round was held in August in Beijing.
Wang, in a meeting with a group of Japanese opposition lawmakers last Monday, had expressed reservations about seeking to hold the second round of six-way talks in January, the lawmakers told reporters after the meeting. Wang reportedly hoped for another meeting by the end of the year.
China, which is expected to host another round of talks in Beijing, said earlier it is still hopeful of holding the meeting by the end of this year.
