The foreign ministers of North Korea and Sweden held a meeting on Saturday... in which they
reportedly discussed diplomatic efforts to peacefully resolve the security situation
on the Korean Peninsula.
But it's not known what they agreed to do, and North Korea has said nothing about the
meeting.
There has been speculation that they were talking about the upcoming summit between
Washington and Pyongyang.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
The foreign ministers' meeting between Sweden and North Korea ended on Saturday,... with
the focus mainly on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Sweden says its foreign minister, Margot Wallstrom, and North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong-ho
discussed (quote) "opportunities and challenges" to "diplomatic efforts" to peacefully solve
the North Korea issue.
The talks also dealt with Sweden's consular responsibilities in North Korea... where it
works on behalf of countries including the U.S.
Though not explicitly stated,... the announcement hints... that the Washington-Pyongyang summit
talks may have been on the table... as well as the release of Americans detained in North
Korea.
Stockholm added that the two ministers touched upon regional security cooperation among South
Korea, Japan, Russia, China and the U.S.,... which implies that they may also have talked
about the resumption of the six-party talks.
But the ministry did not reveal specifically what the two ministers agreed on,... raising
the possibility that Sweden and North Korea were not able to come together on much or
anything.
Pyongyang has not made any announcement about the talks with Sweden as of yet.
North Korean foreign minister Ri Yong-ho's visit to Sweden led to much speculation that
Pyongyang could be making arrangements for talks with the United States,... especially
since Sweden -- which, unlike the U.S., has an embassy in North Korea -- has been considered
Washington's channel for diplomacy with Pyongyang.
Sweden has volunteered to serve as a mediator in laying the groundwork for the Washington-Pyongyang
summit... and is also a potential venue for the talks.
Ri's meeting with Wallstrom wasoriginally set to last for just two days but were extended
until Saturday.
The North Korean foreign minister is to leave Stockholm on Sunday.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
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