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WORLD NEWS Thursday 31 May 2018

Top North Korean official heads to US for pre-summit talks

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN and bombs in a verifiable
HYUNG-JIN KIM and irreversible way if
BEIJING (AP) — A top North offered credible security
Korean official headed to and economic guarantees.
New York on Wednesday China, North Korea's
for talks aimed at salvaging longtime ally and chief
a summit between Kim trading partner, has
Jong Un and President sought to position itself
Donald Trump on the future as a key intermediary in
of Kim's nuclear program, talks over Pyongyang's
in the North's highest-level nuclear weapons
mission to the United States program. Beijing backs
in 18 years. the North's proposal for a
Associated Press reporters phased and synchronized
saw Kim Yong Chol at denuclearization process,
Beijing's airport just after while the United States
noon. South Korea's insists on a comprehensive
Yonhap news agency one-shot deal in which
cited diplomatic sources North Korea eliminates its
as saying that Kim was on nukes first and receives
an Air China flight to New rewards later.
York that departed later Russia said Wednesday that
Wednesday afternoon. its foreign minister, Sergey
Yonhap said Kim, who Lavrov, will travel to North
had arrived in Beijing on Korea for talks on Thursday.
Tuesday, was traveling with Kim Chang Son, a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is seen in a car leaving the Kim Yong Chol would be
five other North Korean Fullerton hotel in Singapore on 30 May 2018. the highest-level North
officials. Associated Press Korean official to travel
Kim, one of North Korean to the United States since
leader Kim Jong Un's most was carrying a personal other pre-summit talks lingering doubts on whether 2000, when Vice Marshal
trusted aides, is a former letter from Kim Jong Un between Washington and Kim will ever fully relinquish Jo Myong Rok visited
military intelligence chief and may push to travel to Pyongyang. his nuclear arsenal, which Washington and met
and now a vice chairman Washington to meet with A team of U.S. officials he may see as his only President Bill Clinton amid
of the ruling party's central Trump. led by former U.S. nuclear guarantee of survival in warming ties between the
committee. Pompeo has traveled negotiator Sung Kim a region surrounded by wartime foes. Secretary of
North Korea's mission to to Pyongyang twice in began talks with North enemies. State Madeleine Albright
the United Nations in New recent weeks for meetings Korean officials at the While there have been made a historic reciprocal
York is its sole diplomatic with Kim Jong Un, and Korean border village of a few instances in which visit to Pyongyang later in
presence in the United has said there is a "shared Panmunjom on Sunday countries were persuaded 2000 in a bid to arrange a
States. That suggests Kim understanding" between to set the agenda for the to abandon their nuclear North Korea visit by Clinton.
might have chosen to first the two sides about what summit. ambitions in exchange Ties turned sour again after
go to New York because they hope to achieve in A North Korean delegation for sanctions relief and President George W. Bush
it would make it easier for talks. South Korean media led by another of Kim compensation, none of took office in early 2001
him to communicate with speculated that Pompeo Jong Un's trusted aides, the cases are directly with a tough policy on the
officials in Pyongyang, could make a third trip to Kim Chang Son, flew to applicable to North Korea, North.
North Korea's capital. North Pyongyang after Kim Yong Singapore on Monday night which has advanced its Kim Yong Chol's official
Korea and the United States Chol's U.S. trip. for talks with U.S. officials to nukes further and with title is a vice chairman of
are still technically at war Trump and Kim Jong Un discuss logistical issues for greater zeal than any of the the central committee of
and have no diplomatic were set to hold their summit the summit. Details of those others. The North's arsenal the ruling Workers' Party.
ties because the 1950-53 June 12 in Singapore, but talks hadn't emerged yet. now includes purported Previously, he was a four-
Korean War ended with Trump announced last North Korea's flurry of thermonuclear warheads star army general and a
an armistice, not a peace week that he was pulling diplomatic activity and developmental long- military intelligence chief
treaty out of the meeting. Since following a torrid run in range missiles potentially who is thought to have
Trump confirmed Tuesday then, he has suggested the nuclear weapons and capable of reaching been behind two deadly
that Kim was to hold talks summit could be back on, missile tests in 2017 suggests mainland U.S. cities. attacks in 2010 that killed
with Secretary of State and Kim Yong Chol's trip to that Kim Jong Un is eager But South Korea, which has 50 South Koreans and an
Mike Pompeo. But it wasn't the U.S. seems to imply that for sanctions relief to build lobbied hard for the talks alleged 2014 cyberattack
immediately known what preparations for a meeting his economy and the between Trump and Kim, on Sony Pictures. Both Seoul
else he would do in the could be in the final stages. international legitimacy the has insisted that Kim can be and Washington imposed
United States. South Korean Kim Yong Chol's trip summit with Trump would persuaded to abandon his sanctions on him in recent
media speculated that he comes amid two sets of provide. But there are nuclear facilities, materials years.q