U.N. official's visit to North Korea raises questions about sanctions

Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Speculation is rising in South Korea that the Kim Jong Un regime may have asked a senior United Nations official to ease sanctions against the country, as Jeffrey Feltman concluded his four-day visit to Pyongyang.

Feltman, a former U.S. State Department official, reportedly met with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and vice foreign minister Park Myong Guk, but was unable to secure a meeting with the North Korean leader, News 1 reported Friday.

Feltman's visit to the North was made known in Pyongyang's state media on Friday, South Korean television network SBS reported.

KCNA stated Feltman visited a children's food plant and listened to explanations regarding the "commendable transformation of the factory into a modern food and beverage production base."

State media also said Feltman visited a Pyongyang maternity hospital and a "disease prevention" facility, but left out mention of details around his meeting with foreign ministry officials.

Analysts in South Korea say the visit is a significant gesture for North Korea.

"From North Korea's perspective, a country that has declared the completion of its nuclear weapons power, the dialogue was a great opportunity for their position to be presented to the international community," said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul.

Kim Hyun-uk of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy said the dialogue will not make a significantly positive impact on the peninsula, given North Korea's standing position on nuclear weapons.

Pyongyang is seeking U.S. recognition as a nuclear weapons state.

There is also a possibility North Korea invited Feltman to request an easing of sanctions, following statements from a North Korean delegation to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, or UNIDO, on Nov. 28, condemning the embargoes.