North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator told a forum in China last week that the North's young leader Kim Jong-un has been prioritizing the economy, indicating Kim might put more effort in developing the country's moribund economy, a diplomatic source who attended the forum said Sunday.

Ri Yong-ho, the North's chief delegate to the long-stalled six-party talks aimed at ending its nuclear weapons program, made the remarks during the forum in Beijing that marked the 10th anniversary of the talks, the source said on the condition of anonymity.