North Korean foreign minister arrives in Sweden
STOCKHOLM — North Korea’s foreign minister arrived in Sweden Thursday for talks with his Swedish counterpart. The surprise trip could be a step toward a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho landed at Stockholm Arlanda Airport on a direct flight from Beijing. Ri will meet Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom at an undisclosed location Thursday or Friday, the Swedish Foreign Ministry said.
Sweden has had diplomatic rela- tions with North Korea since 1973 and is one of the few Western countries with an embassy in Pyongyang. It provides consular services for the United States in North Korea.
“If the key actors want Sweden to play a role, facilitate (talks), be a forum or a link orwhateveritmaybe,thenweare prepared to do that,” Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told Sweden’s TT news agency earlier Thursday.
“We shouldn’t be naive and believe it is Sweden that solves these problems,” Lofven added.
Sweden’s foreign ministry said the talks between Wallstrom and Ri “will focus on Sweden’s consular responsibilities as a protecting powerfortheunitedstates, Canada and Australia,” but also will address the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The ministry referred to the U.N. Security Council’s condemnation of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs, saying the U.N. “emphasized the need for intensified diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.”
The Swedish ministry said a statement summarizing the talks will be made available Friday.