Pyongyang, Washington to Meet in Tokyo

Top North Korean diplomats will visit Tokyo shortly according to Japanese Kyodo News reports yesterday.

Kim Gye Gwan, Pyongyang’s chief negotiator to the six-party talks, and Han Sung Ryol, deputy chief of North Korea’s U.N. mission, will attend a non-governmental, academic conference on April 9 in Tokyo.

The conference will be also attended by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who heads the American delegation to the six-party talks, and Chun Young-woo, chief of the South Korean delegation.

“The conference may serve as an opportunity for the members of the six-party talks to break away from the current stalemate caused by financial sanctions on Pyongyang by Washington,” Kyodo wrote. “It is highly likely that North Korea and the U.S. will discuss the resumption of the talks.”

“It seems North Korea felt the need to send high-level diplomats because Mr. Hill’s attendance is deemed certain,” a Japanese government official commented.

Researchers and government officials from the six-party member countries will discuss measures to guarantee security in Northeast Asia at the conference hosted by University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. It will be held from April 9-13.