Beijing to hold talks with North Korean minister

China would hold talks with North Korea tomorrow, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday, after Pyongyang offered high-level negotiations with the United States to ease tension on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea's proposed talks with Washington came days after it abruptly cancelled planned official negotiations with South Korea. The White House has said any talks must involve Pyongyang showing it is moving towards scrapping its nuclear weapons.

Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui will meet North Korea's First Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan tomorrow in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing.

"We are holding this kind of strategic dialogue is because China and North Korea always maintain close communication," Hua said. "China is also paying close attention to the situation on the Korean peninsula and is proactively working to promote each side to quickly restart dialogue and consultation."

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama had a phone conversation with South Korean President Park Geun-Hye on Sunday night.

"The two presidents discussed recent developments with respect to the Korean Peninsula, and agreed to continue close communication and co-ordination on actions to pursue the denuclearisation of North Korea," a White House statement said.

China, North Korea's one major ally, has urged Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programme and return to talks.