Diplomats from China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) met in Beijing Monday to discuss the Korean nuclear issue.

Shen Guofang, assistant foreign minister of China, met with Li Gun, head of the DPRK delegation to the working group of the six-party talks on the DPRK nuclear issue.

Prior to the meeting, Ning Fukui, ambassador for the Korean Peninsula of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, held working consultations with Li, who is also deputy director-general of the American Department of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, and exchanged views on related issues.

The first and second working group meetings were held in Beijing in May and June and forged new steps for the goal of denuclearization on Korean Peninsula.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2004)