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리수용 북한 외무상이 아세안지역안보포럼(ARF) 외교장관회의 참석을 위해 4일 오후 말레이시아 쿠알라룸푸르에 도착했다 .
리 외무상은 그러나 남측 윤병세 외교부 장관과 만날 것이냐 등 취재진의 질문 에는 굳게 입을 다물었다.
북측은 리 외무상이 공항을 빠져나오는 과정에서 일부 취재진을 따돌리기도 했다.
일부 취재진들은 공항 5층 VIP(귀빈) 출입구에 대기하고 있었지만 리 외무상 일 행은 4층 일반 출입구로 나와 대기하고 있던 차량에 탑승한 뒤 공항을 빠져나갔다.
리 외무상은 쿠알라룸푸르 시내 숙소에서도 호텔 정문이 별도의 출입구를 통해 들어가 취재진과 숨바꼭질을 벌이는 행태를 보였다.
우리 정부는 북측과의 대화 가능성에 문을 열어놓고 있지만 최근 남북관계 경색 등을 감안할 때 남북간 의미 있는 대화를 기대하기는 어렵지 않겠느냐는 관측이 나온다.
지난해 미얀마 네피도에서 열린 ARF 외교장관회의에서도 윤병세 장관은 리 외무 상은 만찬장 등에서 조우했을 뿐 의미 있는 접촉을 하지 못했다.
올해 역시 5일 밤 의장국인 말레이시아가 주최하는 환영 만찬과 6일 ARF 외교장 관회의에서 윤 장관과 리 외무상이 조우할 가능성이 있다.
이란 핵협상 타결 이후 한미일을 중심으로 북핵에 대한 압박이 강화하는 상황에 서 리 외무상은 중국 등과 다양한 양자접촉을 통해 미국의 적대시정책을 탓하며 책 임을 미국으로 돌리는 외교전을 펼칠 것으로 관측된다.
북한은 러시아, 일본과 양자회담을 추진 중인 것으로 알려졌으며, 왕이(王毅) 중국 외교부장과도 만날 가능성이 큰 것으로 보인다. (연합)
<관련 영문 기사>
N. Korean FM arrives in Malaysia for regional talks
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong arrived in Malaysia Tuesday for regional security talks seen as a rare opportunity for active diplomatic engagement with the reclusive communist state.
Ri arrived with a delegation of officials at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and headed to a hotel in the city center, appearing to avoid contact with the media as much as possible.
His arrival came two days ahead of the ASEAN Regional Forum involving all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, 16 other countries and the EU.
At the airport, Ri left through a general arrivals hall while reporters waited to see him outside the VIP arrivals hall. Asked by one reporter whether he plans to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se during his stay, he left without an answer.
Reporters waiting for him at the hotel also missed him as he entered through a back door and headed straight for the elevator.
The ARF participants include all the members of the six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program, setting the stage for various bilateral and multilateral meetings on the issue.
The six-party talks have not been held since late 2008, but the forum has drawn attention again in light of the recent progress in international efforts to curb Iran's uranium enrichment program.
But North Korea has stepped up its rhetoric in recent weeks, saying it is not interested in unilaterally giving up its nuclear program first.
Keen attention is being paid to whether the two Korean ministers will meet in between their partly overlapping schedules, which include a gala dinner on Wednesday and the ARF meeting on Thursday.
South Korea has said it is open to dialogue with the North, but critics have raised doubts about a meaningful meeting between the two as inter-Korean tensions persist over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program and human rights abuses, among other issues.
Difficulties could be added by South Korea's efforts to include a clause condemning North Korea's nuclear and missile development in the ARF chairman's statement concluding the forum.
Ri's visit has also drawn interest amid speculation of a possible meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, which would indicate efforts to mend bilateral ties that have soured in recent years due to North Korea's nuclear weapons drive.
Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said earlier that Ri and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss their "bilateral agenda and peace settlement in the Korean peninsula."
Japan's Kyodo news agency also reported that talks are under way to arrange a meeting between Ri and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday.
From Malaysia, Ri will make official visits to Thailand and Brunei, according to the North's state media. (Yonhap)
