North Korean nuclear envoy makes rare U.S. visit - All kinds of doors open up when one has nukes

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/North_Korean_nuclear_envoy_makes_rare_U_S_visit.html?siteSect=143&sid=7568318&cKey=1172571833000

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's chief nuclear envoy embarked on a rare trip to the United States on Tuesday while South Korea sent a top official to Pyongyang to persuade the North to quickly start scrapping its nuclear arms programme.

North Korean nuclear negotiator Kim Kye-gwan arrived in Beijing on Tuesday en route for talks with U.S. officials, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Reclusive North Korea agreed earlier this month at six-way talks to shut down its main nuclear reactor, the source of its weapons-grade plutonium, in return for energy aid. It separately said it would halt its seven-month boycott of talks with Seoul.

North Korea has few air links with the outside world and its officials often travel via China.

[BayCityProgressive]

1. I have hope in this situation

if Bush doesn't screw this up..AND THAT'S A BIG IF...we can geta peace deal signed and they will lose some of their "The US is out ot get us" excuses. China has been pushing them to make some socialist market reforms, and they have to some extent. Their economy has grown slowly but steadily since the reforms have been introduced. Hopefully these reforms will lead to self dependance for food and energy so that the people there can have a better life. I'm not forseeing any huge government change, but as liberals we should be concerned with the wellbeing of the citizens who live there. I definately don't want to see another 90's style famine and with global warming you never know when something could happen again there..