North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho has arrived in Sweden on a surprise visit, the first significant diplomatic move by Pyongyang since US President Donald Trump said that he was willing to meet Kim Jong-un, the media reported.
Ri arrived at the Swedish Foreign Ministry on Thursday night, reports CNN.
Sweden, whose embassy represents US interests in the North Korean capital, has been touted as a possible venue for the momentous summit between Kim and Trump, and the visit will fuel speculation that a Stockholm encounter is in the cards.
Talks between Ri and his Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom will “focus on Sweden’s consular responsibilities as a protecting power for the US, Canada and Australia”, the Swedish government said, announcing the two-day visit.
The security situation on the Korean Peninsula is also on the agenda.
North Korea has made no official comment on the proposed face-to-face meeting since Trump accepted Kim’s invitation last week which was delivered verbally by a South Korean delegation, CNN reported.
But diplomatic sources have signaled enough confidence in South Korea’s words and actions that most of the parties are pressing ahead.