N. Korean Officials Meet with US Governor Richardson
By VOA News
19 August 2009
Two North Korean diplomats are meeting with U.S. Governor Bill Richardson Wednesday in Santa Fe in the western state of New Mexico.
The North Koreans requested the visit with Richardson, who was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under former President Bill Clinton. There has been no word on details of the daylong talks, which follow Mr. Clinton's trip to North Korea earlier this month.
Richardson's office said the governor is not negotiating with the North Koreans on behalf of President Barack Obama, nor is he representing the White House.
Former President Clinton met with Mr. Obama at length was at the White House Tuesday, discussing his recent talks in Pyongyang with Kim Jong-il. The North Korean leader is said to have looked healthy and to have expressed a desire to improve relations with the United States.
The North Koreans - U.N. Ambassador Kim Myong Gil and counselor Jong Jo Paek - traveled to New Mexico from their posts at the United Nations in New York.
Mr. Clinton was in Pyongyang on August 4 on a visit to gain the freedom of young two American journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who had been detained there for four months for a border-crossing violation.
The United States is eager for intelligence about North Korea, particularly the health of its leader. South Korean intelligence reports have suggested Mr. Kim has suffered a stroke and has pancreatic cancer. North Korean media deny Mr. Kim is sick.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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