The United States doesn't plan to invite a ranking North Korean official to New York, nor is there a schedule for U.S. officials to meet with North Koreans anytime soon, the U.S. State Department said Friday, dismissing reports that North Korea's chief nuclear envoy Kim Kye-gwan will visit New York in March for meetings with his U.S. counterparts.
"There are no plans right now for North Korean officials to come to the United States, nor for U.S. officials to meet with North Koreans," Yonhap News Agency said Saturday, citing a U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley.
Reports in South Korea said that Kim will visit New York on March 2 to attend an academic seminar and also meet with Sung Kim, U.S. special envoy for six-party talks, and other officials to discuss resumption of the nuclear talks.
Diplomatic sources here said that discussions are under way regarding Kim's U.S. visit, Yonhap said.
Washington has said it is ready to discuss the North Korean nuclear issues, but only after the North returns to the six-party talks, which also involve China, Japan and Russia, in addition to the two Koreas.