The official KCNA news agency said Kim met Hu Wednesday but it gave no details of any firm agreements on the North's denuclearisation, economic aid or other issues.

China's state media, in contrast, quoted Kim as telling Hu he wants stalled six-party denuclearisation talks resumed at an early date, and "sincerely" hopes for an improvement in ties with South Korea.

China is pressing to restart the talks on the North's nuclear disarmament, which have been in limbo since Pyongyang walked out in April 2009. It staged its second atom bomb test a month later.

KCNA said the two leaders agreed that denuclearisation "on the whole Korean peninsula" was in the region's interests.

It should be achieved through dialogue including the resumption of six-party talks "and the elimination of obstructive elements", the agency quoted them as saying.

The two sides "shared views on making good understanding and coordination" on the issue, KCNA said.

China's state television showed Kim, dressed in his trademark brownish tunic outfit, hugging Hu, who was attired in a Western suit.

According to Chinese accounts, Kim told his host that the North "is currently focusing its efforts on economic development and we really need a stable environment for this".

Inter-Korean relations have been icy for over a year, with the South blaming the North for two deadly border incidents, and the impasse is complicating efforts to restart the six-party talks.

The South cut off vital food aid to its hungry neighbour in 2008 as relations worsened.

Kim's trip was his third in just over a year to China, his country's sole major ally and economic lifeline.

China's Premier Wen Jiabao, in comments in Tokyo Sunday, said Kim had been invited to study China's dramatic economic development, in hopes he would use the knowledge to revive his own country's economy.

China has long pressed its impoverished ally to open up the state-directed economy. Analysts say Kim's regime fears the loss of political control this would entail.

Kim praised China's "dynamic progress", KCNA said, but there was no hint his own country would follow suit in freeing its faltering economy.

Instead, Hu reportedly supported the North in "firmly preserving socialism and exploring the road of development suited to its reality".

Kim said his country's friendship with China would stand the test of time no matter "how frequently one generation is replaced by another".

His son and heir apparent Kim Jong-Un was not in the delegation.

Seoul's Dongguk University professor Kim Yong-Hyun said it was premature to assess the outcome of the visit, which focused on economic cooperation.

"It's not sure whether the two sides reached any clear agreement on sensitive matters such as denuclearisation," he told AFP.

"We have yet to see if Kim has achieved his goal -- winning China's full support for North Korea's dynastic power succession and economic assistance."

The North's economy is beset by serious shortages of electricity and raw materials and it grapples with persistent serious food shortages. International sanctions imposed to curb its missile and nuclear programmes have discouraged foreign investment.

A US government team is visiting the North this week to assess its request for food aid.

The regime is desperate to improve living standards before the 100th anniversary next year of the birth of late founding president Kim Il-Sung, the current Kim's father.

In addition to Beijing, Kim visited the northeastern cities of Mudanjiang and Changchun as well as the eastern cities of Yanzhou and Nanjing, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

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