It appeared the two agencies coordinated the timing of their dispatches that marked the first time the sides have confirmed

Kim's secretive, weeklong trip to China, the North's last-remaining major ally that has propped up the impoverished regime with aid and diplomatic support.

The two sides typically reveal details of Kim's Chinese trips only after he returns home.

"Kim said the DPRK hopes to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, sticks to the objective of denuclearization on the

Korean Peninsula and believes that the six-party talks should be resumed at an early date," Xinhua said, referring to the North by the acronym of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"Kim said the DPRK, as always, sincerely hopes relations between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (ROK) could be

improved," Xinhua said. ROK refers to South Korea, whose official name is the Republic of Korea.

KCNA said that Kim and Hu recognized that the "adherence to the goal of denuclearization on the whole Korean Peninsula, peaceful settlement of the issue through dialogue, including the resumption of the six-party talks, and the elimination of obstructive elements conform to the overall interests of Northeast Asia."

They "shared views on making good understanding and coordination," it said.

KCNA made no mention of relations with South Korea.

The nuclear talks, involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the U.S., have been stalled since the last session in

December 2008 due to North Korea's boycott and tensions over the communist nation's two deadly attacks on the South last year.

According to Xinhua, Hu stressed the importance of peace and stability as well as denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,

urging related parties to "remain clam and restrained, show flexibility, remove obstacles, improve relations and make positive efforts to ultimately accomplish peace, stability and development on the peninsula."

Kim told Hu that North Korea "is now concentrating its attention and resources on economic development, and it is in great

need of a stable neighboring environment," Xinhua said, a comment seen as a plea for Chinese help in reviving the North's broken economy.

It was Kim's third trip to China in about a year. The latest trip, which began Friday last week, came as Kim has been grooming his youngest son, Jong-un, as his successor. Last year, the heir-apparent was given top posts at the ruling Workers' Party as well as the title of a four-star general.

KCNA said that Hu called for advancing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, saying China's

government and party will "creditably discharge the historic responsibility for steadfastly carrying forward the baton of the traditional Sino-DPRK friendship."

The remark suggests that China may have given its blessing to Kim's succession plan.

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