N. K.Deputy Ambassador Han Sung-ryul’s Unprecedented Attendance at S.K.’ Event

The North Korean deputy ambassador to the U.N. Han Sung-ryul attended a dinner meeting in New York Oct. 11 (local time) organized by the Korea Society (chairman Donald Gregg, former U.S. ambassador to Seoul), which was established to promote cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. It is very unprecedented for a senior North Korean official to participate in an official event related to South Korea.

Deputy Ambassador Han and North Korean consul Ahn Song-nam attended dressed up at the meeting at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. They are reported to have sat at the head of the table and showed open-minded and amicable attitudes, talking with Korean and American participants. When chairman Gregg introduced Mr. Han at the start and end of the dinner, he sat up and made a bow to other participants.

According to South Korean diplomats, their North Korean counterparts do not bother to take a bow and often make their case in a loud voice and leave in official and unofficial events. Even when the two sides have something to discuss at the U.N. they just do their work and then disappear without a word.

Mr. Han said, “I attended this dinner because this is a casual meeting organized by a non-political group.” Regarding the scheduled visit by chairman Gregg to Pyongyang, he added he knows that the chairman makes efforts for cultural changes between North Korea and the U.S.

konihong@donga.com