N. Korea open to meeting U.S. in regional forum

By Lee Chi-dong
PHUKET, Thailand, July 21 (Yonhap) -- A delegation of five North Korean officials
arrived here Tuesday to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), leaving room for a
surprise bilateral meeting with U.S. officials on the sidelines of this week's
annual event.

When asked about whether they will meet with the U.S. side, Ri Tong-il, director
of the disarmament department at the North's foreign ministry, reportedly said
"it will depend on the situation." Ri made the comments to a group of reporters
during a flight from Bangkok to Phuket.
He apparently serves as spokesman for the delegation, headed by Amb. Pak
Kun-gwang. Pak is a vice foreign minister-level official at Pyongyang's foreign
ministry, according to the North's embassy in Bangkok. He has served as North
Korea's ambassador to Namibia and several other African countries.
The North's officials, however, gave no comment at the Phuket airport as they
were whisked away by a convoy of sedans upon arrival.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)