UN officials' visit promotes mutual understanding: DPRK

PYONGYANG, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said in a press release Saturday that a visit by senior United Nations (UN) officials helped promote understanding between the country and the UN Secretariat.

The press release, issued by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on the last day of the visit, said both sides acknowledged that the visit "contributed to promoting trust between the two sides" and that they "agreed to have regular exchanges of opinions through frequent exchanges of visits at various levels."

Jeffrey Feltman, the UN's under-secretary-general for political affairs who was accompanied by two colleagues, visited Pyongyang from Dec. 5 to 9.

According to the press release, the official met with both the DPRK's foreign minister and its vice foreign minister. During the meetings, they discussed bilateral cooperation between the country and the UN as well as the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The DPRK side said the current tense situation on the peninsula "is entirely ascribable to the U.S. hostile policy and nuclear threat and blackmail against the DPRK," said the press release, which also condemned the U.S.-South Korea joint military drills.

It said the UN official expressed concern over the escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula and the willingness to de-escalate the situation.

The official also visited a children's foodstuff factory and a hospital in Pyongyang, according to the press release. Enditem