MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to The Washington Post, it may become the first such meeting in more than five years, however, arranging such talks has become complicated over the last eight days due to a recent Pyongyang ballistic missile test and the assassination of Kim Jong Un’s half brother in Malaysia, which is believed by many to be ordered by the North Korean leader.
"If this happens, it would be an interesting signal to the new administration," a source familiar with the preparations told the media outlet.
According to the publication, the US Department of State has not approved visas for the North Korean officials yet, and Choe Son Hui, the director of the US affairs department at North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, is likely to head the North Korean delegation.
Pyongyang carried out on February 12 a successful test of an intermediate-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile. Launched from an airbase in the western province of North Pyongan, the missile was reported to have traveled about 480 km before plunging into the Sea of Japan.
North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005. The United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as Russia and China, took part in talks with North Korea on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula between 2003 and 2009, when Pyongyang withdrew from the talks.
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