ID :
44051
Tue, 02/03/2009 - 22:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/44051
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea reports British lawmakers' arrival, mum on U.S. experts
(ATTN: UPDATES headline, lead, paras 2, 8, 9 with no report on U.S. team arrival)
SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- A British parliamentary delegation arrived in Pyongyang
Tuesday, the North's news agency said, in a visit coinciding with a rare trip by
a U.S. team of former government officials and experts.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) made no mention of the expected arrival of
the U.S. group, including former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Stephen Bosworth,
who is reportedly on a list of candidates for special envoy to Pyongyang. The
visit is the first civilian exchange between the two countries since U.S.
President Barack Obama took office last month.
The KCNA said the British delegation, led by the House of Lords' David Alton, was
greeted by Ri Jong-hyok, deputy to the North's Supreme People's Assembly, in
Pyongyang's airport. It did not reveal the purpose of the trip.
Alton is chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea, a British
lawmakers' group aimed at enhancing relations with Pyongyang.
Last week, North Korea sent a delegation of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea to
London, which reportedly met with European Union officials and Glyn Ford, a
British lawmaker well versed on North Korean issues.
Radio Free Asia, a U.S.-based station, said Tuesday the North Korean party
delegation expressed hope for normalizing relations with the EU and acquiring
technology to build tidal power plants.
Relations were suspended after the EU submitted a human rights resolution on
North Korea to the United Nations in 2005.
The visit by the U.S. group comes amid heightened regional tension after North
Korea rejected peace accords with Seoul. Intelligence sources said Tuesday the
North appears to be preparing to launch a ballistic missile, a move that will
take a month or two of preparations.
Seoul officials said the North Korea trip by the U.S. group was arranged a year
ago. Some of its members plan to visit Seoul en route to the U.S. this weekend.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- A British parliamentary delegation arrived in Pyongyang
Tuesday, the North's news agency said, in a visit coinciding with a rare trip by
a U.S. team of former government officials and experts.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) made no mention of the expected arrival of
the U.S. group, including former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Stephen Bosworth,
who is reportedly on a list of candidates for special envoy to Pyongyang. The
visit is the first civilian exchange between the two countries since U.S.
President Barack Obama took office last month.
The KCNA said the British delegation, led by the House of Lords' David Alton, was
greeted by Ri Jong-hyok, deputy to the North's Supreme People's Assembly, in
Pyongyang's airport. It did not reveal the purpose of the trip.
Alton is chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea, a British
lawmakers' group aimed at enhancing relations with Pyongyang.
Last week, North Korea sent a delegation of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea to
London, which reportedly met with European Union officials and Glyn Ford, a
British lawmaker well versed on North Korean issues.
Radio Free Asia, a U.S.-based station, said Tuesday the North Korean party
delegation expressed hope for normalizing relations with the EU and acquiring
technology to build tidal power plants.
Relations were suspended after the EU submitted a human rights resolution on
North Korea to the United Nations in 2005.
The visit by the U.S. group comes amid heightened regional tension after North
Korea rejected peace accords with Seoul. Intelligence sources said Tuesday the
North appears to be preparing to launch a ballistic missile, a move that will
take a month or two of preparations.
Seoul officials said the North Korea trip by the U.S. group was arranged a year
ago. Some of its members plan to visit Seoul en route to the U.S. this weekend.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
