HONG KONG, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- China's top foreign policymaker could possibly visit North Korea soon amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula sparked by the North's abrupt attack on the South, a Beijing source said Monday.
China called Sunday for emergency discussions early next month among envoys to the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing North Korea and defusing high tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Beijing has reportedly decided to send a special envoy to Pyongyang at an early date.
The source familiar with diplomatic affairs said there is a greater possibility that State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who advises top Chinese officials on foreign policy, will visit North Korea to discuss the recent development of the regime's attack.
Wang Jiarui, director of the International Department of the Central Committee of China's Communist Party, was originally expected to visit North Korea as early as Monday.
"The important factor will be whether the Chinese envoy will be able to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during the visit, and the visit is likely to be arranged accordingly," the source said.
North Korea's Tuesday attack on Yeonpyeong Island killed two South Korean marines and as many civilians. It drew international condemnation and angered South Koreans, who came under their communist neighbor's first attack targeting civilians since the 1950-53 Korean War.
Defying North Korea's threats of retaliation, South Korea and the United States launched large-scale naval drills off the Korean Peninsula's west coast Sunday with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington participating, in a potent show of force against the North.
China has expressed concerns on the South Korean-U.S. joint military exercise, saying it will further escalate the tensions.
Dai made an unannounced trip to Seoul on Saturday and paid a visit to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, in order to discuss measures to ease tensions on the peninsula.
The Chinese foreign ministry released a statement on Monday, saying that Dai had a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by phone and exchanged views about the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.
According to the statement, Dai stressed China and the United States should play a constructive role in making joint efforts to cool down the situation, while Clinton said the U.S. side is willing to make joint efforts with China to maintain peace and stability in the peninsula. (Yonhap)
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