US Scientists to Visit Pyongyang in January

In an effort to boost scientific exchanges, a U.S. scientific delegation will visit North Korea in January with the official blessing from the two governments.

The 10-member consortium, which includes information technology experts, university administrators, non-governmental organizations, will attend a briefing in Pyongyang by North Korean scientists on the status of the Stalinist country’s scientific technology and discuss ways to boost exchanges between the two countries’ scientific communities, RFA reported Friday.

The plan is reportedly under the final stage of awaiting the visit approval from Pyongyang. Haweida Tosson, a professor at the school of information studies at Syracuse University, a member of the delegation, said, “We have strong support from [both governments] for the ideas.”

Tosson added that the chief U.S. nuclear envoy Christopher Hill has been involved in this exchange.

The participants of the consortium, which was formed in May, come from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation, Korea Society, and New York-based Syracuse University. The delegation has had meetings with North Korean officials from its New York U.N. Mission.