Washington: US President Barack Obama has written a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as part of an intense effort to draw the reclusive nation back
to nuclear disarmament talks, a senior State Department official said.
The letter was delivered to North Korean officials last week by Obama's special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, during a visit to Pyongyang aimed at restarting the
stalled negotiations, the official said yesterday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because
of the sensitive nature of the diplomacy, would not describe
the contents of the letter but said they fit with Bosworth's
general message.
"The North Koreans have a choice: continued and further
isolation or benefits for returning to the six-party talks and
dismantling their nuclear weapons program," the official said.
The official was not aware whether Kim had responded to
Obama's missive. Bosworth's visit did not include a meeting
with the North Korean leader.
The existence of the letter has been closely held, with
the administration insisting to its partners in disarmament
talks with North Korea that it not be publicly discussed,
according to The Washington Post, which first reported
yesterday that the letter had been delivered.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 15:39