N.Korean Official Allowed to Visit Washington

[mumon]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=731&e=4&u=/nm/20040720/wl_nm/korea_north_usa_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea (news - web sites)'s U.N. ambassador on Tuesday made his first visit to Washington since President Bush (news - web sites) took office, reflecting recent progress in talks to end Pyongyang's nuclear program.


Pak Gil Yon's appearance at a conference in a U.S. Senate building may have been more notable for the fact that it occurred than for what was said. He pressed Pyongyang's demand for "rewards" in return for freezing nuclear activities.


Sen. Joseph Biden, senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the administration decided to "lift what heretofore has been a ban on your (Pak's) visit here (and this) is some small measure of the realization on their part that there needs to be this direct contact between us."


Hmmm....

I guess the next thing we'll find is Bush and Kim Jong Il together in the Oval Office...