Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- China's President Hu Jintao begins a three-day visit to North Korea today, his first since taking office in 2003, and the first time a Chinese leader has gone to Pyongyang since former President Jiang Zemin went in 2001.

Hu, who arrived in Pyongyang this morning, will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to discuss relations between the two countries, ``and of course, they'll be talking about the six- party talks,'' on North Korea's nuclear weapons program, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said at a briefing yesterday in Beijing.

Hu's trip, which comes as China prepares to host a fifth round of six-nation talks next month aimed at persuading Kim to give up his country's nuclear weapons programs, may be a reward for North Korea's signing an agreement in September to give up its programs in exchange for food and energy aid and security guarantees, an analyst said.

``Obviously, Hu's visit there gives North Korea face,'' said Paul French, Shanghai-based author of ``North Korea: Paranoid Peninsula.'' ``It is a reward for them for signing the non-proliferation statement. A senior leader visit from China is a big deal for North Korea.''

North Korea agreed to give up its nuclear weapons on Sept. 19 in a deal brokered by China in Beijing. The joint statement, also signed by the U.S., South Korea, Japan and Russia, declared that North Korea will give up its nuclear weapons program in exchange for food, development aid and full diplomatic ties with the others.

The next day, the North Korean government issued a statement through its official news agency saying it wouldn't give up its nuclear weapons until the U.S. provided a light- water reactor to produce power, casting doubt on its commitment to abide by the agreement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Allen T. Cheng in Beijing at acheng13@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 28, 2005 01:57 EDT