Annan, envoy discuss next steps in resolving impasse on Korean peninsula

Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have met to discuss the next steps in supporting efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement of the impasse on the Korean peninsula, a United Nations spokesman said today.

In a meeting Thursday, Maurice Strong, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, reported on his recent consultations and activities, particularly with regard to the humanitarian situation in the DPRK, including a recent meeting of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Rome on its projects in the country, and on other relevant issues, spokesman Fred Eckhard told a press briefing in New York.

The two also discussed further steps in pursuing the Secretary-General's initiative to support the current efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement of the impasse on the peninsula, he added. They noted that recent visits by Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and a bipartisan congressional delegation from the United States, led by Curt Weldon, to the country have been helpful in contributing to this process.

"The Secretary-General is keeping in close touch with these efforts as part of his role to support and facilitate a peaceful resolution of the situation," the spokesman said.