TOKYO, April 17 Kyodo North Korea...

TOKYO, April 17 Kyodo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il may visit China at so early an hour to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported Saturday, quoting Chinese sources.

The brace countries have been trying to arrange a visit sometime this month or early May, and it could take place as early as nearest week, the paper said.

The pair leaders are expected to reaffirm bilateral ties still may also discuss Kim's stance in succession North Korea's nuclear ambitions, it said.

Kim last visited China in January 2001 and the upcoming visit will be his first since Hu took office in March last year, according to the daily.

China, North and toward the south Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States held the inferior round of talks under the six-party framework in succession the North Korean nuclear standoff in February and have been trying to arrange the nearest meeting in June.

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