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Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov in Pyongyang
SEOUL, May 31, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
arrived in Pyongyang Thursday, an AFP photographer said, ahead of a landmark
summit between Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Lavrov’s visit comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity to organise next
month’s summit, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also meeting Kim’s
right-hand man Kim Yong Chol in New York late Wednesday.
Lavrov was met by Vice Foreign Minister Sin Hong Chol at the airport.
“Sergei Lavrov, foreign minister of the Russian Federation, arrived here on
Thursday at the invitation of Ri Yong Ho, foreign minister of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)”, KCNA news agency said in a brief
dispatch.
It gave no further details but Russia’s Tass news agency said the two
foreign ministers had begun talks at the Supreme People’s Assembly building
in Pyongyang.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier they were expected to discuss
“vital issues of bilateral relations and key international and regional
issues”.
Lavrov is paying a visit to North Korea for the first time since 2009, Tass
said.
Lavrov spoke to his US counterpart Pompeo by telephone for the first time
on Wednesday ahead of the Secretary of State’s dinner meeting with Kim Yong
Chol.
Washington is pressing North Korea to quickly give up all its nuclear
weapons in a verifiable way in return for lifting sanctions and economic
relief.
But analysts say North Korea will be unwilling to cede its nuclear
deterrent unless it is given security guarantees that the US will not try to
topple the regime.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1400 hrs