A Senior South Korean Diplomat Meets with the Isolated Leader of North Korea Today - 2003-01-28

A senior South Korean diplomat is set to meet with the isolated leader of North Korea today. This meeting is part of an intense diplomatic effort to persuade Pyongyang to end its nuclear weapons program. Lim Dong-won, the South Korean envoy, is expected to deliver a letter from the President of South Korea to the North Korean leader. Officials say that the letter urgently requests North Korea to immediately halt its nuclear ambitions. Mr. Lim began negotiations with senior North Korean officials yesterday. Meanwhile, the European Union has stated that it will send diplomatic missions to North Korea if necessary to help resolve the crisis. On January 28, 2003, at 1739 UTC, the South Korean government is awaiting the results of its special envoy's talks in Pyongyang with Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader. Lim Dong-won met with Kim Yong-nam, the ceremonial leader of North Korea, today and then engaged in discussions with Kim Jong-il. He is carrying a letter from Kim Dae-jung, the President of South Korea, asking Pyongyang to immediately cease its nuclear ambitions. In the meantime, North Korean media have once again attacked the United States, accusing Washington of planning a massive attack on North Korea. On January 28, 2003, at 1834 UTC, Lim Dong-won, the special envoy of the South Korean presidency to Pyongyang, is still waiting for a meeting with Kim Jong-il. Mr. Lim met this morning with Kim Yong-nam, who is considered the ceremonial leader of North Korea, and it was expected that this meeting would pave the way for his meeting with Kim Jong-il. However, the South Korean special envoy is still waiting for this meeting, and it remains unclear whether he will succeed in meeting with the isolated North Korean leader tomorrow. Mr. Lim, who has been treated very well in North Korea, intends to deliver Kim Dae-jung's letter to Kim Jong-il, which requests that Pyongyang immediately cease its nuclear ambitions.