U.N. official visiting North Korea
Meeting with Kim not on political chief ’s schedule
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. political chief is heading to North Korea on a rare four-day visit at the invitation of the government for a wide-ranging discussion on policy issues “of mutual interest and concern.”
U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Undersecretary-general for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will arrive Tuesday in Pyongyang from Beijing, where he met Monday with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong.
Asked whether Feltman would meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Dujarric said that his current schedule includes meetings with Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, a vice minister, diplomats and U.N. staff.
Feltman’s visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between North Korea and South Korea, Japan and the United States, sparked by the reclusive country’s frequent missile launches and recent nuclear test, and particularly by its latest launch of a long-range ballistic missile last week which experts say could hit Washington.
Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump have traded insults and engaged in escalating rhetoric in recent months.
In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly in September, Trump threatened “to totally destroy North Korea” if the U.S. is forced to defend itself or its allies and he later tweeted that Kim — whom he called “little rocket man” — “won’t be around much longer.”
Kim responded to the U.S. leader by promising to “tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire,” and Foreign Minister Ri called Trump’s tweet a “declaration of war” and said that North Korea has the right to retaliate.
Trump announced Nov. 20 that the United States was returning North Korea to the list of state sponsors of terrorism and promised to intensify a campaign of “maximum pressure” and sanctions as part of a rolling effort to compel Kim’s government to negotiate over its nuclear program.
Dujarric declined to give any further details on Feltman’s trip or say whether he would discuss a possible visit to North Korea by Secretary-general Antonio Guterres.
The spokesman noted that Guterres has repeatedly said “his good offices are always available if the parties want.”