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Annan welcomes high-level dialogue between US and DPR of Korea

Annan welcomes high-level dialogue between US and DPR of Korea

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, today welcomed the resumption of a high-level dialogue between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

A spokesman for Mr. Annan issued a statement voicing hope that the discussions in Pyongyang helped both countries to better understand their respective positions and concerns.

"The Secretary-General is hopeful that this important development is the beginning of more regular exchanges by both sides with a view to resolving their differences, however serious," spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters in New York. "It is the view of the Secretary-General that the international community should continue its efforts to facilitate the encouraging trends in the Korean peninsula."

Participating in the talks were the US Presidential Envoy, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly, the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong Nam, and other officials.