French envoy arrives in N. Korea with Sarkozy's special message+

PYONGYANG/BEIJING, Nov. 9 Kyodo -
French President Nicolas Sarkozy's envoy for North Korea arrived in Pyongyang
on Monday carrying a ''special message'' for North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
''I have a special message, yes,'' Jack Lang told reporters at Beijing airport
before leaving for Pyongyang, when asked if he had brought a letter from
Sarkozy.
It is not immediately clear whether Lang, a former culture minister, will see
Kim during a five-day visit. But Lang said it is ''the wish of President
Sarkozy'' that he meet Kim.
Lang said he wants to have ''open discussions'' with North Korean officials on
''all the questions,'' including the possibility of establishing diplomatic
relations between the two countries and on the stalled six-party talks on
Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions.
''The French president gives this trip, this initiative, a great importance,''
Lang said. ''We want to meet the most important people in North Korea.''
Of the 27 member states of the European Union, only France and Estonia do not
have ties with North Korea.
In April, North Korea declared its withdrawal from the six-way talks involving
the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia and in May it
conducted a second nuclear test.
==Kyodo