"The DPRK is willing to work with you to create favourable conditions for a resumption of the six-party talks," Xinhua news agency quoted Kim as telling Hu during talks in Beijing.

The DPRK leader told Hu that his country is still committed to denuclearization on the Korean peninsula, Xinhua said.

But it gave no indication when the negotiations, which have been on ice since the DPRK walked out more than a year ago, could restart.

Pyongyang's official media separately confirmed that Kim had ended his five-day visit to China but made no immediate mention of any meeting with Hu or the nuclear talks.

Kim's visit to China was thought to have focused on securing aid - possibly in return for a pledge to return to the nuclear forum hosted by Beijing.

The two leaders said ‘relevant parties’ in the nuclear forum "should demonstrate sincerity and make positive efforts for pushing forward the six-party talks", Xinhua said.

AFP