U.S.' DPRK envoy to visit Seoul amid tension

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U.S. officials plan to review sanctions slapped on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and a ban on travel to the country imposed on American citizens to ensure that they do not limit humanitarian aid, a U.S. special envoy said on Wednesday.

Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for the DPRK, made the announcement to reporters as he arrived in Seoul for a four-day meeting with Republic of Korea (ROK) officials.

Aid groups have complained that strict enforcement of sanctions imposed on the DPRK has been delaying and in some cases preventing the delivery of aid to the impoverished country.

"I'll be sitting down with American aid groups early in the new year to discuss how we can better ensure the delivery of appropriate assistance," said Biegun.

Biegun's visit comes at a sensitive time as Pyongyang has darted harsh words on Washington over the weekend for imposing sanctions against senior DPRK officials, criticizing the U.S. State Department for being "bent on bringing DPRK-U.S. relations back to the status of last year which was marked by exchanges of fire."

Meanwhile, Pyongyang and Seoul have been on the track of forming a closer relationship. The two sides will hold a groundbreaking ceremony next week at the Panmun Station in the DPRK's border town of Kaesong to modernize and eventually connect railway and road across the inter-Korean border.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said recently that China encourages the U.S. and the DPRK to advance denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.

(Cover: The ROK's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs Lee Do-hoon shakes hands with U.S. special representative for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Stephen Biegun during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul, September 11, 2018. /Xinhua Photo)

Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency