[Photo] US sends mixed signals to N. Korea ahead of Xi’s visit

Following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea on June 20, the US is sending mixed signals regarding its negotiations with North Korea. Stephen Biegun, the US special representative for North Korea, said the door to negotiations is “wide open” and stressed a “flexible approach” during the Atlantic Council’s East Asia Foundation Strategic Dialogue in Washington, DC on June 19. Conversely, the US Department of Treasury slapped sanctions on a Russian financial firm accused of helping North Korea on the same day, on the eve of Xi’s visit and just four hours before his arrival in Pyongyang. The photo shows Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon and Biegun at the Atlantic Council forum in Washington on June 19.