US officials met North Koreans last week
US officials met with North Korean counterparts in New York last week to discuss American policy toward the Stalinist state, the US Embassy in Tokyo said today.
“We can confirm that we had working-level contact with North Korean officials on Friday, May 13, in New York,” the statement said.
“This channel is used to convey messages about US policy, not to negotiate.”
The embassy did not elaborate.
The US, China and other countries are trying to persuade North Korea to return to six-nation talks on its nuclear weapons programmes. The talks have been stalled since last year.
The confirmation came as Japan’s Asahi newspaper reported the meeting in today’s later editions.
The Asahi report said during the meeting, senior US State Department officials said Washington recognises North Korea as a sovereign nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.
The US officials also told the North Korean side the administration of President George Bush does not intend to attack North Korea, the Asahi said.
The report said the meeting took place at North Korea’s representative office at the United Nations.
