Posted July. 18, 2004 22:08,
The U.S. State Department said on July 16 it had accepted the request of North Korean representatives to the United Nations Park Gil-yon and deputy representative Han Song-ryol, who had wanted to visit Washington, D.C. to participate in the Korean Peninsula Peace Forum.
The U.S. government has not permitted North Korean diplomats to travel to the U.S. capital so far. Ambassador Parks visit to Washington, D.C. will be the first visit of a high-ranking North Korean official since the Vice Commander of the Korean Peoples Army, Cho Myung-rok, visited in October 2000.
The U.S. makes it a rule for North Korean diplomats to the U.N. to get permission when they travel farther than 25 miles (40km) from UN headquarters.
The U.S. administrations measure seems to be related to an appeasement policy for North Korea surrounding the third six-nation talks on North Koreas program to develop nuclear weapons.
However, a diplomatic source said, As the U.S. considers everything by case, we cant expect epoch-making changes in the North-U.S. relationship and the nuclear issues from this measure.
The U.S. administrations measure has something to do with President George W. Bushs presidential campaign strategy, being conscious of Korean people in U.S., said a North Korea expert in Washington, adding, The Bush administrations policies towards North Korea have changed in attitude, but the basic strategies havent changed.
Deputy Representative Han stated, When participating in the peace forum, I will point out that North Korean nuclear issues can be resolved only if the U.S. withdraws its hostile policy towards the DPRK and starts a diplomatic settlement through bilateral negotiations.
The Korean Peninsula Peace Forum will be held on July 20 under the auspices of three Korea-related institutions in U.S., including the Korea Society (headed by former U.S. ambassador to Korea, Donald P. Gregg), attended by delegates from South and North Korea.
Organizers are said to have tried to invite the DPRK Supreme Peoples Assembly delegation to hold a forum attended by lawmakers from South and North Korea and the U.S., but invited representative Park and others due to the bad situation.
Only four Uri lawmakers, including Chang Young-dal, will participate in the forum from South Korea. Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties were invited, and from the U.S., the Democratic Party secretary of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph R. Biden, Curt Weldon of U.S. House of Representatives and Jack Pritchard, former special envoy for negotiations with North Korea of the U.S. State Department are expected to attend.