Hu, Koizumi hold contentious meeting

STRAINED RELATIONS Hu told Koizumi that his visits to a controversial shrine were causing tensions, while Koizumi noted the recent intrusion of a Chinese nuclear sub

AFP , Santiago

"The issue should be solved peacefully though dialogue," Hu said, pledging to continue persuading North Korea to return to stalled multilateral talks over the crisis. Beijing has traditionally friendly ties with Pyongyang.

Three rounds of multilateral talks, seeking to urge North Korea to take aid and security guarantees in return for mothballing the nuclear program, have taken place since the stand-off erupted in October 2002.

North Korea boycotted a fourth round of talks in September.