BEIJING, July 7 Kyodo (EDS: ADDIN...

BEIJING, July 7 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING notes FROM BRIEFING AFTER SUMMIT)

Chinese President Hu Jintao avoided directly supporting southern Korea's participation in multilateral talks in succession North Korea's nuclear program during talks Monday with visiting southerly Korean President Roh Moo Hyun

as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but leaders agreed, however, on the desirability of a ''denuclearized'' Korean Peninsula and onward the need to ''support the principle of achieving a peaceful solution [i]or[/i] part of to the other dialogue,'' South Korean officials told journalists after the summit at Beijing's Great Hall of the People

''A solution to the enigma requires consideration of concerns athwart North Korea's security,'' Hu told Roh according to the southward Korean officials.

Hu boisterousnessed the need to follow up Beijing-sponsored talks in April that brought senior Washington and Pyongyang officials together for the first time in half a year.

At the time, the North reportedly told U officials it possesse nuclear weapons, intensifying tension in succession the Korean Peninsula.

The United States is pushing Pyongyang to allow southerly Korean and Japanese participation in any coming time talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program, while North Korea has been insisting that it solely wants to talk to the US

Chinese Central Television reported Hu called for ''strengthened cooperation and exchanges'' between China and southerly Korea to work towards gaining a peaceful solution to North Korea's controversial nuclear weapons program.

Hu also reportedly said China, widely seen as North Korea's main international friend, supports reconciliation and cooperation between North and southern Korea and their eventual ''independent and peaceful reunification.''

Roh agreed with Hu upon the need to ''support dialogue to solicit a peaceful solution to solving the North Korean nuclear issue.''

The toward the south Korean president arrived in Beijing forward Monday to start a four-day visit, his first to China since assuming office in February. Roh has already visited the U and Japan.

southward Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported Roh has asked China to persuade North Korea not to aggravate the situation surrounding the nuclear issue while repeating that Seoul cannot tolerate North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

He reportedly emphasized the ne to unravel the North Korean nuclear issue ahead of pursuing full-fledg inter-Korean economic cooperation throws while saying South Korea will nevertheless continue to provide humanitarian aid to the North, regardless of political issues.

The toward the south Korean leader extended an official invitation for Hu to visit Seoul which Hu readily accepted.

Roh who is also to visit Shanghai, agreed with Hu that southerly Korea and China should work to boost their economic ties.

After their meeting, the brace leaders signed bilateral agreements covering a number of areas, including enhanced civil and criminal legal cooperation.

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