N. Korean delegation to visit NY

By Kim Se-jeong

A North Korean economic delegation will visit San Diego and New York City for two weeks from March 20.

Susan Shirk, director of the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego, invited the ten-member delegation who will learn about Western economic systems and theory during their stay, the Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Between 1997 and 2000, Shirk served as deputy assistant secretary of state in the East Asia and Pacific Affairs bureau, and went to North Korea last year as a director of the institute, to discuss North Korea-U.S. cooperation on a private level.

The VOA also confirmed that the U.S. government last year authorized the import of a North Korean beer, called “Daedonggang.”

“I received the final authorization on Sept. 30,” said Steve Park, a U.S-based importer. The first 2,000-2,500 cases of beer will be on sale this summer.

Meanwhile in Asia, the Japanese Asahi Shimbun quoted a South Korean government official, who said North and South Korea had a clandestine meeting in January to arrange an inter-Korean summit.

If verified, it would be the foreshadowing of President Lee’s comment on a possible inter-Korean dialogue.

During the March 1 Independence Movement Day speech, President Lee said he was ready to talk to Pyongyang. A strong demand for an apology he had previously made for attacking a South Korean naval vessel and an island on the west coast was not mentioned.

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