By Kim Young-gyo
HONG KONG, Dec. 1 (Yonhap) -- Top legislators from China and North Korea held talks Wednesday in Beijing amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, according to the Chinese government.

   Wu Bangguo, chairman of the standing committee of Chinese National People's Congress, and Choe Thae-bok, secretary of the central committee of the North Korean Workers' party, met Wednesday afternoon, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its Web site.

   The statement, however, did not clarify whether the two high-ranking officials spoke about North Korea's artillery attack on South Korea last week or its newly disclosed uranium enrichment plant, which could easily produce material for nuclear warheads.

   Choe landed in China on Tuesday for a five-day visit, in response to an invitation from Wu, who is also the country's second-ranking official.

   Choe, known to be one of the key political figures in North Korea, visited China in September for talks with top Chinese officials after North Korea's biggest Workers' Party convention since 1980. During the convention, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il named his third son, Kim Jong-un, as his successor.

   The current visit comes a week after North Korea's deadly shelling on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island near the inter-Korean border. The attack killed two marines and as many civilians, drawing international condemnation and angering South Koreans.

   It was the first North Korean attack targeting civilians since the 1950-53 Korean War.

   Choe and Wu exchanged views on bilateral relations and other issues of common interest "in a cordial and friendly atmosphere," the online statement said.

   "The unswerving strategic policy of the Chinese government and the Chinese party is to continuously consolidate and develop friendly and cooperative relations with North Korea," Wu was quoted as saying on the statement.

   Choe emphasized a similar effort.

   "It will not only bring the two peoples tangible benefits, but also be conducive to regional peace and stability in Northeast Asia," he said.

   ygkim@yna.co.kr
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