It emerged in the East Asian press on Sunday that China is seeking to arrange a meeting between George W. Bush and North Korean despot Kim Jong-il, which would take place during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
According to this news account from the South Korean newspaper the Daily North Korea, several Japanese publications published the details over the weekend.
By Yang Jung-a writes for the Daily NK:
“Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported that Taku Yamazaki, the former secretary general of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party told reporters, ‘Chinese Vice President Xi-jinping asked Kim Jong-il to attend the Olympics during their meeting on June 18. … If Kim attends the opening ceremonies, both President Bush and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda would respond favorably. It would provide a good opportunity for a discussion on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.”
Jung-a then goes on to say that another Japanese publication, the Shukan Bunshun, reported:
“one of purposes of Jinping’s visit to Pyongyang was to bring President Bush and Kim Jong-il together for a meeting at the Olympics. … A high-ranking Chinese official has been visiting Pyongyang on a regular basis to encourage Kim Jong-il to attend. If things go well, relations between the United States and North Korea would improve and China’s national prestige as host of the Six Party Talks would also be enhanced.”
By Yang Jung-a
June 24, 2008
South Korea – Daily North Korea – Original Article (English)
During his recent visit to North Korea, Chinese Vice President Xi-jinping is reported to have invited Kim Jong-il to the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. Now attention is being paid to whether Kim Jong-il will accept.President George W. Bush intends to attend the ceremony and there is speculation about a potential summit between President Bush and Kim Jong-il.
On Sunday, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported that Taku Yamazaki, the former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party told reporters on Saturday, “Chinese Vice President Xi-jinping asked Kim Jong-l to attend the Olympics during their meeting on June 18.”
Yamazaki, who is a senior Japanese lawmaker, said “If Kim Jong-il attends the opening ceremonies, both President Bush and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda would respond favorably. It would provide a good opportunity for a discussion of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.”
Japanese weekly Shukan Bunshun is quoted as saying in its most recent issue that one of purposes of Jinping’s visit to Pyongyang was to bring President Bush and Kim Jong-il together for a meeting at the Olympics.
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