North top diplomat in Sweden to ‘ set up Kim- Trump meet’

Stockholm, March 15: North Korea’s top diplomat was on Thursday en route to Sweden for talks which could play a role in setting up a proposed summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong- un.

Sweden’s embassy in Pyongyang also represents US, Canadian and Australian diplomatic interests in North Korea, with the country playing a key role in liaising diplomatic talks.

Sweden confirmed that North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho was to visit the Scandinavian country for talks with his Swedish counterpart, Margot Wallstrom.

“The talks will focus on Sweden’s consular responsibilities as a protecting power for the United States, Canada and Australia,” a foreign ministry statement said.

“They will also address the security situation on the Korean peninsula, which is high on the ( UN) Security Council agenda,” it said. Sweden is currently a non- permanent member of the Security Council.

“The aim of the visit is to contribute to the effective implementation of the resolutions” voted by the Security Council against Pyongyang over its nuclear programme as well as those calling “for intensified diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict”.

Mr Ri was travelling with Choe Kang Il, deputy director general of the foreign ministry’s North America section, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

“We can’t rule out the possibility of a contact between the North and the US” during Ri’s trip to Sweden, a Beijing source told the news agency.

Ri was expected to arrive in Stockholm around 6: 15 pm ( 1715 GMT).