China delegation visits North Korea amid turmoil

BEIJING, July 10 (Reuters) A Chinese leader visiting North Korea days after its missile tests defied international opinion today said that Beijing stood by its Communist neighbour, adding to uncertainty about China's position in the standoff.

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu's ''friendship delegation'' arrived in Pyongyang earlier in the day for a six-day visit announced before North Korea last week test-fired seven missiles, one of them a long-range Taepodong-2 that fell into the sea moments after launch.

The missiles sparked urgent diplomacy and talk in Tokyo and Washington of U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang. But Hui stressed the long-time bonds joining China and North Korea.

''The traditional friendship between China and North Korea has withstood the tests of history and its tribulations,'' Hui said in a speech in Pyongyang, according to Xinhua news agency. ''China and North Korea adhere to friendship, mutual trust and cooperation.'' Hui is accompanied by Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, who oversees diplomacy with North Korea. A Japanese politician had said the Chinese team would convey Beijing's ''grave view'' of the missile tests, but the Xinhua report did not mention the issue.

China now finds itself buffeted by rival demands from Washington and Pyongyang, each seeking Beijing's backing as they square off over Kim Jong-il's weapons plans and possible U.N. sanctions against the Stalinist North.

China hosted a number of sessions of six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, attended by the United States, South Korea, Japan and Russia. The process stalled in November because Pyongyang objected to U.S. financial sanctions based on claims North Korea counterfeited U.S. currency and trafficked drugs.

While China is privately exasperated with Kim, it is unlikely to heed Washington's calls to squeeze North Korea's economic and security lifelines to push him back to the disarmament talks, several Chinese analysts told Reuters.

China has too much at stake in robust ties with North Korea, and believes Washington must defuse this latest dispute, said Chu Shulong of Tsinghua University in Beijing.

''It's a problem between North Korea and the U.S., and China's role can only be limited,'' he said.

LIMITED SWAY Many Chinese observers say Washington overstates Beijing's sway over North Korea, whose reclusive rulers depend on Chinese oil and trade but bridle at China's dominance.

The missile tests, carried out despite warnings by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, underlined the limits of that influence, said Shen Dingli of Shanghai's Fudan University.

''The launch has indicated that they do not listen to China,'' he said. ''They consider that working through China has not improved their security environment.'' North Korea appears to have tested the missiles when it did to signal it did not want Beijing to mediate between it and Washington, said Li Dunqiu, a North Korea expert at the State Council Development Research Centre, a government think tank.

''I think the reason for launching the missiles on July 4 was to signal a desire for dialogue with the United States,'' he said, referring to U.S. Independence Day.

''North Korea also said the launches were unrelated to the six-party talks -- in other words, it's not an issue for multilateral talks; they want this to force bilateral talks with Washington.'' China has its own reasons for not pressing Kim's regime, say observers. Beijing believes a tottering and resentful Communist state on its doorstep would menace Chinese security.

President Hu Jintao has instead tried to court and reassure Kim.

In October, Hu visited Pyongyang and was feted with mass displays of friendship. In January, Kim visited China to inspect its economic engine and draw lessons for his own wary reforms.

Today, Hui repeated that friendly theme. He also oversaw the signing of an agreement on economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.

China has said it will oppose any United Nations Security Council resolution that threatens Pyongyang with sanctions. But it would also be reluctant to veto a resolution and expose a rift with Washington and other powers, said Chinese analysts.

As a permanent member of the Security Council, China can block any U.N. decision, as can the United States, Britain, France and Russia.

''Ultimately, it will depend on the specifics of the resolution, but China's fundamental interests suggest abstention, not veto,'' Li said.

Reuters SY DB2242