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| North Korea's ranking diplomat Cho Yong-sam says that its delegate doesn't have any intent to meet U.S. envoy in an interview with state-run media, Wednesday. / Yonhap |
By Choi Ha-young
North Korea is not interested in talks with the United States during the Winter Olympics that kicks off Friday in PyeongChang, South Korea, a ranking North Korean diplomat said Wednesday.
"To be clear, our delegate has no intention of meeting a U.S envoy," said Cho Yong-sam, director-general of the North American department under North Korea's foreign ministry, as quoted by the North's state-run Korea Central News Agency.
"We have never begged for dialogue with the U.S. and our stance will remain the same in the future."
He flatly dismissed the possibility of diplomatic talks on the occasion of the Olympics. "Our delegate is heading for the South, simply to celebrate the successful hosting of the Winter Games," Cho noted. "We do not aim to use the sporting event for political purpose."
The diplomat's interview remarks are in line with U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert's earlier remarks. "We have no plans to meet with North Korea during the Olympics or after the Olympics," she said Tuesday. "We have no plans to do so."
On Wednesday, the North declared that Kim Yo-jong, sister of state leader Kim Jong-un, will visit South Korea to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics, fueling speculation she may deliver a message to the world from her brother.
This is the first time a member of the ruling Kim family visits the South. Kim Yong-nam, Pyongyang's nominal head of state, will officially lead the 22-member government delegation.
Vice President Mike Pence, who is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony Friday, has reiterated that he is not planning to meet the North Koreans during the event. Along with hawkish remarks to irritate the North, he will accompany Fred Warmbier, the father of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died shortly after being released from imprisonment in North Korea.
The vice president on Wednesday warned of the "toughest and most aggressive round" of economic sanctions on North Korea, escalating a war of nerves between Washington and Pyongyang.
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