Swedish envoy discusses Korean Peninsula issues with DPRK officials

PYONGYANG, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Swedish government envoy visited the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) this week and held talks with DPRK officials on bilateral ties and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday.

Kent Rolf Magnus Harstedt, a member of the Swedish parliament, visited Pyongyang from Dec. 19 to 21, the KCNA said.

During the visit, Harstedt met with Ri Su Yong, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, as well as Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, and he held talks with Vice Foreign Minister Han Song Ryol, the agency added.

The two sides discussed expanding bilateral ties in various fields and exchanged views on the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula, according to the report.

Sweden is one of a few Western countries which keep a fully operating embassy in the DPRK and actively participates in United Nations humanitarian projects in the country.

Last week, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said at the United Nations that the international community has to "exhaust every avenue for diplomacy and dialogue" to solve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Enditem