Obama proposes U.S. liaison in North Korea-Yonhap

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

* North Korea confirms letter to Kim from U.S. president
* Obama proposes liaison office in North Korea
* Offer seen as attempt to lure Pyongyang back to talks (Adds KCNA confirmation of Obama letter, paragraphs 3-4)

U.S. President Barack Obama has proposed setting up a liaison office in North Korea next year in a step to ease tensions between the two rival states, Yonhap news agency said on Friday.

The offer was in a letter for leader Kim Jong-il that Obama's first envoy to the secretive state delivered when he went to Pyongyang last week for discussions aimed at reviving dormant nuclear disarmament talks, Yonhap quoted diplomatic sources in Beijing as saying.

North Korea's official KCNA news agency confirmed later on Friday that the letter from Obama to Kim had been handed to First Vice Minister Kang Sok-ju, considered the mastermind of the North's nuclear policy, by U.S. envoy Stephen Bosworth on Dec. 9.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/TOE5BH078.htm

[izquierdista]

1. A good first step

There, a compliment for Obama. However, I shall continue pointing out areas for improvement where there isn't a first step.