TOKYO, September 2 (RIA Novosti) - A high-ranking North Korean diplomat could visit Europe this week, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday, citing a South Korean diplomatic source.
Kang Sok-ju, the Korean Workers Party's Central Committee secretary, is reportedly planning a European tour, visiting Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy and meet some key political figures. The purposes of the visit have not been disclosed.
“Taking into consideration Kang's status in North Korea, his visit may have a specific purpose,” the source was quoted by Yonhap as saying.
Also, South Korea’s KBS broadcaster reported that Seoul sees Kang’s visit as an attempt by the North Korean regime to break away from international isolation.
The North Korean official’s possible trip would coincide with the visit of the country’s Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong to the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005 and conducted a series of underground nuclear weapon tests in the following years. Pyongyang’s nuclear program has triggered mass protests from the international community, including the demands for the nation to return to the so-called six-party negotiations, comprising North and South Korea, Russia, the United States, China and Japan, on the reduction of its nuclear activities.
