DPRK FOREIGN MINISTER IN HANOI

UNCLAS HANOI 000869 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, EAP/K E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CB KN VM SUBJECT: DPRK FOREIGN MINISTER IN HANOI ¶1. (U) After visiting Singapore for the ASEAN Regional Forum, DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun will visit Hanoi July 25 - 27 before travelling on to Iran for a ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement. According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung, on July 26 Minister Pak will meet Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem to discuss "the implementation of agreements reached at high-ranking levels to promote traditional relations between the two countries." This is Minister Pak's first visit to Vietnam since he took office in May 2007. ¶2. (SBU) Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura also arrives in Hanoi on July 25 for a one-day visit. Japanese Embassy contacts told us, however, that they are unsure if Foreign Minister Komura will meet DPRK Foreign Minister Pak while the two leaders are in Hanoi, as the Komura visit had long been in the works and will focus on several official agreements Hanoi and Tokyo are signing. ¶3. (SBU) Foreign Minister Pak's visit to Hanoi follows an official visit to Vietnam last October by DPRK Prime Minister Kim Yong Il, and a visit to Vietnam by DPRK Security Minister Ju Sang Son in late June. After the latter visit, sources close to CPV leaders told us that Son was in Hanoi to study how to preserve "social and political stability" within the DPRK if it follows Vietnam's "doi moi" example and opens up the North Korean economy. The recent visits by two senior DPRK leaders have prompted renewed speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will visit Vietnam later this year. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: In discussions with us, GVN interlocutors contend that we should be happy to see DPRK visitors in town, as they report the consistent Vietnamese message to Pyongyang is "do not be afraid to open up." We do not doubt that there is an element of truth to this, but are also sure that Hanoi is not trying to force that message on Pyongyang. While this visit will revive speculation that a top-level visit is in the works, we have no indication of this from our official contacts, who today remain close mouthed about the impending visit. MICHALAK