North Korea is committed to a nuclear disarmament pact, and disagreements stalling its progress can be overcome, leader Kim Jong-il said, according to Chinese media today.
Kim met the head of the Chinese Communist Party's international liaison department, Wang Jiarui, on Wednesday and received a message from Chinese President Hu Jintao, Xinhua news agency said.
Mr Wang used the rare meeting to press North Korea and other countries to push forward a stalled six-country disarmament deal that had set an end-2007 deadline for the North to fully list its nuclear activities.
Kim responded that his country remained committed to the deal, which offers the North energy and aid as well as improved diplomatic standing in return for the initial disarmament steps.
North and South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia reached the disarmament deal last year, setting the year-end deadline in October.
North Korea's October 2006 nuclear test alarmed the United States and its regional allies South Korea and Japan.