Beijing ? North Korean leader Kim Jong Il reaffirmed the importance of nuclear disarmament talks during his visit to China this week, Chinese state media reported today, in Beijing’s first official confirmation of the secretive but widely reported trip.

The visit could potentially kick-start the process of North Korea dismantling its nuclear programs, although the reports did not say whether Kim had made a firm commitment to restarting talks or whether he had attached any conditions to such a move.