Officials call it the “New York channel.” Yun is the only US diplomat in contact with any North Korean counterpart. The early US focus was on securing the release of several Americans held in North Korea. But the American and North Korean diplomats also have discussed the overall US-North Korean relationship. In its own convoluted way, North Korea has indicated openness to talks in recent weeks, even as it has accelerated the tempo of weapons tests. “North Korea is assessing its options,” said Suzanne DiMaggio, a senior fellow at the New America think tank who participated in unofficial talks with North Korean officials in Oslo in May, where Yun also met with the North Koreans.

Source: Mint August 12, 2017 07:30 UTC