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북한이 다음 달 초 쿠알라룸푸르에서 열 리는 ARF(아세안지역안보포럼) 외교장관회의에 리수용 외무상의 참석을 의장국인 말 레이시아에 공식 통보한 것으로 전해졌다.
말레이시아 외교부는 이날 연합뉴스와의 통화에서 "북측이 ARF 외교장관회의 참석을 공식 통보해왔다"고 밝혔다.
북측은 참석 대상자로 리수용 외무상과 외무성 국제기구국의 국장급 인사를 통보한 것으로 전해졌다.
이에 따라 이번 ARF 외교장관회의를 계기로 남북 및 북 중간 접촉 여부가 주목된다.
우리 정부는 ARF 계기 남북간 접촉에 대해 "대화의 문을 열어놓고 있다"면서 열 린 입장이지만 남북관계 경색국면에서 의미있는 접촉이 이뤄질 수 있을지는 불투명하다.
지난해 미얀마 네피도에서 열린 ARF 외교장관회의에서는 윤병세 장관과 리수용 외무상이 조우만 했을 뿐 남북관계 경색으로 의미 있는 만남을 갖지 못했다. (연합)
<관련 영문 기사>
N. Korean FM to attend regional meeting in Malaysia: official
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong will attend a regional meeting of foreign ministers in Malaysia next week, a Malaysian foreign ministry official said Wednesday.
North Korea has informed Malaysia of Ri's attendance at the ASEAN Regional Forum to be held in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 6, the official told Yonhap News Agency by phone, requesting anonymity.
Whether Ri would attend the forum has been the focus of attention as it could set the stage for a meeting between the two Koreas' top diplomats.
Ri will be accompanied by Kim Chang-min, director-general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Bureau of International Organizations, the official added.
South Korea has not formally proposed talks with the North in Malaysia, but it has always been open to dialogue with its communist neighbor, officials here have said.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se is scheduled to visit the Malaysian capital from Aug. 4-6 to attend a series of ASEAN-related meetings, including the ARF.
Last year, Yun and Ri briefly met each other on the sidelines of the ARF meeting in Myanmar, but they did not hold talks. (Yonhap)
