Washington's Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues Robert King was set to
visit Pyongyang last Friday.
to win the release of a detained American citizen.
But North Korea suddenly canceled King's visit at the last minute.
Pyongyang cited Washington's use of strategic nuclear-capable bombers in a joint military
exercise with South Korea.
as the reason.
But analysts say it is likely that something else is going to make the trip.
For more, we are now joined by Dr. Kim Chul-woo, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense
Analyses.
Hello, Dr. Kim.
WHY SUDDEN CHANGE OF HEART?
North Korea watchers were specualting that a visit to Pyongyang by Washington's Special
Envoy, Robert King, might just trigger bilateral talks between the two countries and even help
push the two sides back toward the stalled six-party talks.
But that's all for naught now.
Why do you think Pyongyang nixed King's visit?
Is it a legitimate reason?
What's really going on in the minds of the North Korean leadership?
WHAT ARE PYONGYANG'S INTENTIONS?
Some say.
Pyongyang
pulled the offer with the intent of wielding the upper hand in future dialogue with Seoul,
Washington and other regional partners.
What do you think about this view?
WASHINGTON'S RESPONSE What are the responses from Washington?
Do we have any prospects for a U.S.-North Korea dialogue, or the resumption of six-party
talks at all?
FUTURE OF INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS Unlike the case with Washington and Pyongyang,
the two Koreas have turned towards dialogue.
Efforts are underway to revive operations at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, and hold
reunions of families separated by the
Korean War.
What
do
you
think
the role
of the Seoul government should be amid signs of thawing relations between the two Koreas?
Dr. Kim, thank
you for your time.