31 January 2000
Text: North Korean Officials Agree to High-Level Visit to U.S.
(State Department Jan. 31 press release) (290) North Korean officials have agreed to a high-level visit to the United States, the State Department announced January 31. State Department Spokesman James Rubin, in a statement released the same day, said the visit -- which is expected to take place in about two months -- will reciprocate that of Special Presidential Envoy William Perry last year. North Korean officials accepted the invitation from American officials during a meeting in Berlin January 22-28. Following is the State Department text: (begin text) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman (Moscow, Russia) For Immediate Release January 31, 2000 STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN U.S., Democratic People's Republic of Korea Agree to High-level Visit Delegations from the U.S. and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), led respectively by Ambassador Charles Kartman and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan, met in Berlin from January 22-28. The two sides exchanged views on issues of common concern in a constructive, businesslike environment. Vice Foreign Minister Kim formally conveyed the acceptance by his government of a U.S. invitation for a high-level DPRK delegation to visit Washington, reciprocating the May 1999 visit by U.S. Presidential Special Envoy William Perry to Pyongyang. The two sides agreed to meet again toward the end of next month to finalize preparations for the high-level DPRK visit, which will occur about one month later. The two sides agreed that this visit would provide the best opportunity for serious talks and progress on issues central to peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, including improving U.S.-DPRK relations. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State)
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