China hosts North Koreans amid missile tension

BEIJING, June 21 (Reuters) China played host to a North Korean military delegation today, Xinhua news agency said, as the world monitored the North's reported plan to test a long-range missile.

US officials say satellite pictures suggest North Korea may have finished fuelling a Taepodong-2 missile for a test launch.

Washington, South Korea and Japan have said this would present a grave threat to regional security.

Liang Guanglie, chief of general staff of China's People's Liberation Army, received the North Korean group in Beijing today, Xinhua said.

''The delegation, headed by Ri Yong-hwan, an army commander of the Korean People's Army, came to visit China at the invitation of the Chinese National Defence Ministry,'' Xinhua said, without giving details.

It made no mention of a possible missile launch.

China is North Korea's closest ally, the provider of about 70 per cent of its oil. It has played host to six-party talks, aimed at dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear programmes, that have been stalled since last November.

Analysts say Beijing is keen to see its isolated communist neighbour embrace the kinds of reforms that have transformed China into an economic powerhouse, and would be wary of any action that could change the balance of power in the region.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman urged all sides this week to do what they could to ease the situation but said Beijing had no details of any preparations for a missile test.

REUTERS SHR PM1755