N.Korean diplomat to visit NY Thurs. for bilateral talks

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan is expected to visit New York Thursday for talks with the U.S. after the inter-Korean denuclearization talks in Bali, Indonesia last Friday.

The inter-Korean talks were held on the sidelines of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum.

A South Korean high-ranking official said Sunday, “The U.S. government will make an official announcement (on Kim’s visit to the U.S. and bilateral talks) based on Seoul’s explanation on the result of inter-Korean denuclearization talks.”

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who will visit Hong Kong Monday after attending the ASEAN forum, could announce it.

Kim is expected to hold talks with U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth, the first meeting in 19 months since Bosworth’s visit to the North in December 2009.

So the second phase of the denuclearization process leading from inter-Korean talks to the U.S.-North Korea dialogue and finally to the six-party talks has officially begun.

Another South Korean official said, “(South) Korea started the dialogue. There will be various multilateral and bilateral talks within the framework of the six-party talks. The U.S., Japan, China and Russia will make announcements (on the plan to hold a bilateral meeting with the North).”

zeitung@donga.com