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North Korea's envoy arrives in Washington for talks with Pompeo — Yonhap

The talks are to focus on arranging the second meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

MOSCOW, January 18. /TASS/. A senior North Korean politician and general, Kim Yong Chol, has arrived in Washington for talks with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Friday.

According to the agency, the talks are to focus on arranging the second meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim Yong Chol, a vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea for South Korean affairs and the head of the United Front Work Department, was greeted by US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun at the Dulles International Airport. The US diplomat did not answer to journalists’ questions.

Later on Friday, the North Korean official is expected to meet with Pompeo, and, possibly, with US President Donald Trump to hand him over a letter from the North Korean leader.

According to South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, Pompeo may suggest easing sanctions against North Korea in exchange for dismantling or taking out of the country its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States.

Neither the Department of State nor South Korea’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed this information.

Pompeo made several visits to North Korea last year. His previous meeting with Kim Yong Chol was scheduled for early November but was suddenly cancelled.