"The realisation of the Korean peninsula's denuclearisation is the target of North Korea," Xinhua news agency quoted Kim as telling Chinese presidential envoy Tang Jiaxuan in Pyongyang.

"I hope the mechanism of the six-party talks will be an important platform for the realisation of the Korean peninsula's nuclearisation," Kim said.

The arrival of Tang, a state councillor and former foreign minister, in Pyongyang Tuesday came just days after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Beijing.

His visit is seen as part of a diplomatic drive to prepare for Pyongyang's return to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program in the week beginning July 25.

China is the North's closest ally and aid provider and has hosted three previous rounds of talks that comprise the United States, the two Koreas, Japan, Russia and China.

The last round was held in June 2004. Since then they have been stalled, with Pyongyang accusing Washington of a "hostile policy" aimed at regime change in North Korea.

But in a surprise decision it agreed on Saturday to return to the negotiating table, although both the United States and China have warned it is "only the first step".

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