Beijing: Amid new North Korean rhetoric, a Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and North Korean Foreign Minister held in-depth talks in Beijing on February 18 on ways to peacefully resolving Pyongyang's nuclear issue, the Chinese foreign ministry said.

"They had in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and on the Korean nuclear issue. The two sides believed that the Korean nuclear issue and the crisis on the Korean peninsula should be solved through dialogue," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Giyue told reporters.

The visit of the North Korean Foreign Minister Taek Nam Sun was not announced earlier. Zhang said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who handles Asian Affairs and Taek Nam Sun held talks this morning at the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The North Korean visitor may also meet his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan during his stopover visit in Beijing before heading for Kuala Lumpur to attend the 13th Non-Aligned summit, she said.

Earlier, replying to China's reaction to North Korea's threat to withdraw its commitment to the entire 1953 Korean war armistice if sanctions such as a naval blockade are imposed on it, Zhang said Beijing 's stance on Pyongyang's nuclear issue was very clear.

"We have stood for a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and a peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue. We hope relevant parties can solve the problems through dialogue and consultations so as to avoid complicating the situation," she said.

PTI