S. Korean president in China for N. Korea talks

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak began an official three-day visit to Beijing on Monday set to be dominated by concerns over the leadership transition in impoverished, nuclear-armed North Korea. Lee held talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao on the first day of the trip, which comes as Beijing and Seoul are closely watching the North amid fears of instability after the death of its longtime leader Kim Jong-Il. The two leaders had an "in-depth discussion" about the situation on the Korean Peninsula and agreed to "work together for the sake of peace and stability," South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a South Korean official saying. China, which has thrown its support behind Kim's son and successor Kim Jong-Un, said it attached "great importance" to Lee's visit and hoped for a revival of talks aimed at denuclearising the reclusive state. "We believe that the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula serves the interests of all parties," said foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin at a regular briefing. "We hope to enhance communication with all relevant parties so as to jointly push forward the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula as well as the resumption of the six-party talks." China, Pyongyang's sole major ally, chairs the long-stalled talks on the North's nuclear disarmament that bring together the two Koreas, the United States, Japan and Russia. South Korea's top nuclear envoy, Lim Sung-Nam, will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei during the visit, Yonhap said, citing a South Korean foreign ministry official. Lee said in a New Year address last week that the divided peninsula is at a turning point after the death of the older Kim, with the possibility of big change and "a window of opportunity" to improve icy relations. But he vowed to hit back hard against any provocations from the North under its young new chief. Lee also said the nuclear negotiations could resume when Pyongyang halts its atomic activities. His visit to Beijing comes after Kurt Campbell, the US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, urged Chinese leaders to stress the need for restraint to their allies in the North. China, North Korea's biggest economic partner, has thrown its support behind the new leader, as it seeks to maintain stability and prevent a flood of refugees spilling across its border. The North has harshly criticised the South's leaders since Kim Jong-Un was declared "great successor" to his father, threatening unspecified retaliation against Seoul for perceived insults during official mourning for Kim Jong-Il. On Monday, Lee also met with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo. Hu told Lee ahead of their talks that the South Korean leader's visit would "encourage exchanges and cooperation between the two sides". During the meeting Lee said Seoul would soon begin "domestic procedures" that could enable formal negotiations for a free-trade agreement to start in the first half of this year, Yonhap said. China is South Korea's largest trade partner, with two-way trade worth $188.4 billion in 2010. The growing number of Chinese boats caught fishing illegally in the Yellow Sea is also likely to be discussed after a Chinese fisherman was accused of fatally stabbing a South Korean coastguard during a raid last month. The second death of a coastguard at the hands of Chinese fishermen in less than four years sparked widespread anger in the South. Illegal fishing by Chinese vessels is common in South Korean waters, with at least 475 boats seized last year compared with 370 in 2010. Lee will also meet Premier Wen Jiabao during his visit.