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China-Japan-Koreas
Norks Invite U.S. Special Representative
2009-08-26
Still trying for direct, bilateral talks and still getting rebuffed.
North Korea has apparently invited the U.S. special representative for the Stalinist country Stephen Bosworth to Pyongyang. Diplomatic sources in Seoul and Washington on Monday said the North asked on two or three occasions recently whether Bosworth and the U.S. special envoy on North Korean affairs, Sung Kim, could visit Pyongyang, a clear shift from early this year, when it declined a visit from Bosworth.

Such a visit could signal the first step in bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea. The U.S. government is saying North Korea must return to the six-party nuclear talks and any dialogue would be possible only in that framework. A decision about a visit from Bosworth would be made only if North Korea demonstrates its willingness to scrap its nuclear program. "Bosworth's visit will happen someday," one diplomatic source in Seoul said. "But it's not likely to happen in September."

However, other speculation has it that the U.S. government could be more ready to accept Pyongyang's request if there are hopes of an early resumption of the stalled six-party talks.
Posted by:Steve White

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