CIA Officer Named to Key U.S. Post on N. Korea

[Khephra]

CIA Officer Named to Key U.S. Post on N. Korea
By REUTERS

Published: January 13, 2004


Filed at 10:31 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior career CIA officer has been appointed to a key State Department position dealing with North Korea, U.S. officials said on Tuesday, and some experts said the appointment may be intended to reinforce a tough U.S. position toward Pyongyang.

Joseph DeTrani, who has directed CIA operations in East Asia and in Europe, has replaced Charles ``Jack'' Pritchard, who resigned last August after policy differences with the Bush administration.

A China expert rather than a diplomat and Korea expert like Pritchard, DeTrani's CIA positions included director of East Asian operations, director of European operations, director of the crime and narcotics center and director of public affairs.

more......

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-korea-usa-envoy.html

[goforit]

1. Hmmm........Will he be better?

?

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. "Pritchard, .. resigned .. after policy differences" - another BOOK ? ?

.
.
. "Charles ``Jack'' Pritchard, who resigned last August after policy differences with the Bush administration"

More from the Article:

The departure of Pritchard -- who last week visited Pyongyang as part of an unofficial U.S. delegation -- was widely perceived as being related to policy differences.

Pritchard has favored putting a serious proposal to the North's communist leadership and making a concerted effort at negotiations.

The administration in general has been extremely skeptical of negotiating with Pyongyang and some U.S. officials faulted Pritchard as too willing to talk in pursuit of a deal.

/snip/

Ah, ok

The guy was trying to keep the peace ! (not BFEE's style)

And question, I realize the visit was "unofficial"

- but how did he even GET to go to North Korea seeing as he resigned in August?

Sure hope he gets a book out, and lives to "tell"