North Korean diplomat travels to Washington on unofficial visit

Posted on : 2007-09-08 12:17 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST

A senior North Korean diplomat will make a private visit to Washington over the weekend, sources here said Friday.

Kim Myong-gil, his country's deputy chief of mission to the United Nations, was to arrive on Friday and return Sunday, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Close acquaintances, including some from the New York-based Korea Society, will accompany him, they said.

"The visit is not official in nature," one source said. "He would be spending most of his time touring the city."

Kim is the main contact point in the United States for his government, which does not have diplomatic relations with Washington. North Koreans at the U.N. mission require prior permission from the State Department to travel beyond a certain distance from their New York office.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 (Yonhap)

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