Unofficial Talks Between North Korea And The U.S.-South Korea Are To Be Held In Helsinki

Wall Street Journal: North Korea to Meet for Talks With U.S., South Korean Delegations in Helsinki

Comes ahead of U.S.-North Korea summit expected by May.

SEOUL—A North Korean official will hold unofficial talks in Finland with a delegation from the U.S. and former South Korean government officials, Seoul’s foreign ministry said, amid a flurry of recent diplomatic activity before an expected U.S.-North Korean summit by the end of May.

However, American officials said the meeting in Finland isn’t part of the process leading up to a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but would be an informal discussion of the sort that have occurred periodically among former officials, academics and experts from the U.S., North Korea and South Korea.

A South Korean foreign ministry spokeswoman declined to say when the meeting would take place. She wouldn’t identify attendees except to say that the South Korean delegation would include civilian academics, alongside former government officials.

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WNU Editor: All sides are saying that this meeting is just an informal discussion that occurs periodically, and that it isn’t part of the process leading up to a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. My answer to that is a yes and no. This meeting will probably be just a presentation on what are the views and expectations of all sides, an academic discussion that will help to lay the groundwork for when more senior diplomats meet in the coming weeks. And in that next meeting .... that is when a more serious and official discussion will be held. Diplomacy is always about small steps .... and these North Korean talks is a perfect example of it.

More News On Unofficial Talks Between North Korea And The U.S.-South Korea To Be Held In Helsinki

Senior N. Korean diplomat set for meeting with ex-South Korean, US officials in Helsinki -- The Korea Herald
Key North Korean diplomat heads to Finland ahead of possible talks with U.S. and South Korea -- Japan Times/Reuters
Senior North Korea official in Finland for US talks as Kim Jong-un 'takes stock' of Donald Trump meeting -- South China Morning Post
North Korean diplomat heads to Finland for talks with US and South Korea representatives -- Los Angeles Times
North Korean diplomat heads to Finland for talks ahead of possible summit with US: Report -- CNBC
Will North Korea Give Up Nuclear Weapons? Kim Jong Un 'Gave His Word,' Says South Korea -- Newsweek
Who and what's involved in bringing the US and North Korea together -- CNN