[Photo] Sweden to invite N. Korea and US for another round of talks

Sweden has announced plans to send invitations to North Korea and US for another round of working-level denuclearization talks, said Karl Harstedt (left)

, Sweden’s special envoy for the Korean Peninsula, said on Oct. 23. Harstedt spoke with reporters during a press conference at the Swedish Embassy in Seoul, expressing “cautious optimism” for a revival of talks. He insisted that the first round of talks had not “broken down,” as some have claimed, adding it was “a full meeting and lasted a little bit longer than planned.” Harsted concluded, “It is of course up to the two parties to decide the timing of such a meeting, but we will remain proactive from the Swedish side to encourage them to meet." (Noh Ji-won, staff reporter)