Washington, May 30: A six-member congressional delegation of US lawmakers led by representative Curt Weldo, will visit North Korea on a fact-finding mission. "As America makes an effort to settle our differences peacefully, this fact-finding mission will help the Congress better understand the issues facing North Korea," a statement from Weldon's office here said. "I am hopeful that once a dialogue is established, we can eventually address issues like nuclear weapons production and drug trafficking that have prevented us from working together," it said. Weldon serves on the house armed services committee and is chairman of its subcommittee on military procurement. He is also a member of the House Science Committee and is the founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Missile Defense Caucus. The other members of the congressional delegation to Pyongyang are representatives Joseph Wilson (Republican of South Carolina), Jeff Miller (Republican of Texas), Eliot Engel (Democrat of New York), Silvestre Reyes (Democrat of Texas), and Solomon Ortiz (democrat of Texas).

While the administration is blasting North Korea daily, a press release by the congressional delegation said it will meet with North Korean officials "in an effort to improve relations between the two nations."

Working closely with secretary of state Colin Powell, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, ambassador Charles H. Pritchard and North Korea's deputy UN ambassador, Han Song Ryol, the delegation recently received an invitation to visit the country.

Bureau Report