Swedish envoy meets with vice chairman of North Korean Workers’ Party

Kent Härstedt, the Swedish government’s envoy to the Korean Peninsula

Kent Härstedt discussed the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula with Ri Su-yong

Kent Härstedt, the Swedish government’s envoy to the Korean Peninsula

Kent Härstedt, the Swedish government’s envoy to the Korean Peninsula, met with Ri Su-yong, vice chairman of the North Korean Workers’ Party (KWP), during a recent visit to North Korea, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Dec. 21.

“Member of Parliament Kent Rolf Magnus Harstedt, who is special envoy of the government of the Kingdom of Sweden, and his party visited the DPRK from Dec. 19 to 21. During the visit, the special envoy paid courtesy calls on Ri Su Yong, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, and Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and had talks with Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol,” the KCNA said.

“There were a discussion on the matter of expanding the bilateral relations in various fields and exchange of views on the recent situation of the Korean peninsula,” the KCNA added. Prior to his visit to North Korea, Härstedt reportedly exchanged views with Kong Xuanyou, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister and Special Representative on Korean Peninsular Affairs, during a meeting on Dec. 18.

Considering that Sweden has represented the interests of the US in North Korea by using its embassy in Pyongyang to communicate the American position to the North, attention is focusing on whether Härstedt’s visit to the North is related to efforts by the international community to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. Sweden is a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, which has been responsible for monitoring and maintaining the armistice system since the end of the Korean War.

By Jung In-hwan, staff reporter

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