French special envoy visiting Pyongyang

(ATTN: MODIFIES headline; SUBS 5th para to correct Lang's duration of stay; ADDS
details, Swiss visit)
SEOUL, Nov. 9 (Yonhap) -- A special envoy of French President Nicolas Sarkozy on
North Korea arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, the North's media said, in a visit
reportedly aimed at exploring ways of improving relations with the communist
state.
"Jack Lang, special envoy of the French president, and his party arrived here by
air," the Korean Central News Agency said. It gave no other details.
France is one of the few countries in the European Union that does not have
diplomatic ties with North Korea.
Lang visited South Korea, Japan and the United States last month and said France
was seeking ways of contributing to regional negotiations over the North's
nuclear weapons program. The envoy is expected to propose economic aid from the
EU on condition of progress in Pyongyang's denuclearization.
It was not yet known whether Lang would be granted a meeting with North Korean
leader Kim Jong-il during his five-day trip. The French Socialist party member
and former culture minister is expected to submit a report on his North Korea
visit to Sarkozy after his return from Pyongyang on Friday.
The news agency also said a delegation from the Swiss Foreign Ministry arrived on
the same flight. It did not give the purpose of the Swiss visit.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)