N.K. Amb. to U.N. plays role in local Korean community

Ambassador Li Hyong-Chol of the North Korean Representative Office at the United Nations has been warming up to the local Korean community by participating in various events in New York and delivering speeches on unification.

Radio Free Asia (RFA) said Tuesday that previous North Korean ambassadors had shunned participating in events held by the Korean community in New York or contacting the South Korean Representative Office.

Amb. Li is charting a new course by not only attending such events and delivering speeches, but making contacts with high-ranking officials from South Korea, the RFA reported.

Amb. Li made a speech on Dec. 1 on prospects for unification in the wake of inter-Korean summit talks in June. He gave the speech during the 80th Korea Forum, sponsored by the Korean Students' Association at the graduate school of Columbia University.

He also gave a lecture on unification on Dec. 15 at the invitation of a federation of Korean residents living in the U.S., and delivered a speech on the principles of national independence and unity in a meeting organized by a Korean businessmen¡¯s association in New Jersey on Dec. 21.

RFA said that the ambassador¡¯s activities are part of North Korean efforts to bring the world to a better understanding of the reclusive nation. The effort is being led by North¡¯s representative office in cooperation with organizations promoting exchanges with the North.