Posted on 08/08/2006 6:26:27 AM PDT by greyfoxx39
SEOUL (Reuters) - A former U.S. cabinet member who has held discussions with North Korean officials in the past over the North's nuclear ambitions may be planning a fresh trip to Pyongyang, Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday.
Richardson had been in discussions with the North Korean mission to the United Nations in New York about the visit, Yonhap cited the source as saying.
Richardson was unlikely to travel as an official U.S. envoy, the source said, but added that he had acted as a conduit for the Bush administration before.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
Richardson should bring Jimmy Carter & Ms. Albright with him... They did a bang up job during their last negotiations in 1993 and there on, which of course, led to North Korea creating their own Nuclear weapons. Nice job by the Clinton Admin.
If we can send ONE Ex-Klintoon Official to North Korea, why can't we send them ALL? ;)
Aren't there any rules about this type of thing?
As in travel restrictions, holding talks with Axis of Evil regimes?
Quick check his socks for some FBI files. OOPs wrong Fat@ss. sorry.
If a Republican governor did this we would be hearing screams of protest of how he was not tending to his state and he should take care of things at home. It's OK for any liberal Democrat though.
North Korean visas are required for entry. The U.S. Government does not issue letters to private Americans seeking North Korean visas, even though in the past such letters have sometimes been requested by DPRK Embassies. As most travelers enter North Korea from China, prospective travelers must also obtain a two-entry visa for China. A valid Chinese visa is essential for departing from North Korea at the conclusion of a visit or in an emergency.
While the Republic of Korea government is attempting to open direct travel routes to the DPRK, routine travel from the Republic of Korea to the DPRK is currently prohibited. Travel across the demilitarized zone is allowed only infrequently for official and government-authorized cultural and economic exchanges. There are no regularly operating direct commercial flights from South to North Korea at this time.
U.S. citizens who arrive in North Korea without a valid U.S. passport and North Korean visa may be detained, arrested, fined or denied entry. Individuals traveling to North Korea report that fees for local travel costs (taxi, tolls, permits and the cost for security personnel assigned to escort foreigner visitors) can be high and arbitrary.
Where to obtain a North Korean visa:
There is no DPRK embassy in the United States. U.S. citizens and residents planning travel to North Korea must obtain DPRK visas in third countries. For information about entry requirements and restricted areas, contact the DPRK Mission to the United Nations in New York.
U.S. citizens traveling to North Korea usually obtain their visas at the DPRK Embassy in Beijing, China, which will issue visas only after receiving authorization from the DPRK Foreign Ministry in Pyongyang.
Prior to traveling to the region, travelers may wish to confirm that authorization to issue their visa has been received from Pyongyang.
"Aren't there any rules about this type of thing?"
That bothers me to no end! Why on Earth does a current Presidency allow ex-staffers and ex-Presidents to travel around as ambassadors? Don't we HAVE Ambassadors to all other countries? Don't we HAVE A Secretary of State?
Yeesh! These EX-s need to get over themselves. But, that will never happen because it's always LIBS running around the globe trying to "fix things" that they f-ed up in the first place. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!
LOL
Bump
A better question: how can our current administration and government allow this to happen?
Maybe he'll be bearing 'gifts" from Los Alamos..
I forgot all about that.
OMG, excellent and scary thought.
He was there before too.
Why is he allowed to just go over there?
Beyond the ridiclous political VP posturing by the Friend of Bubba, there are two legitimate possible explanations for this trip:
1) Richardson has a few more Los Alamos secretes to sell/give away that the Chinese did not need.
or
2) Dear Leader wants to know how to date Monica.
Those are the two areas where Bill Richardson actually has useful experience to contribute.
Wait this is a Reuter's story. Surely there are pictures showing that Bill Richardson already visited NK as an honored guest last month for the missle launch.
ping
WE are about to get screwed again. And somewhere down the road we will pay in blood for the screwing.
also the lowest rate of DUI and wifebeating.
Anybody on this thread have a way to ping Tony Snow? I know on the presser thread it was suggested that we have a way to bring items to his notice.
Surely, you people don't want the government telling you where you can travel and who you can see. What's with these calls for such controls on the actions of richardson. Relax. He almost always makes a big mess of things. I remember seeing Bob Byrd dress him down in senate hearings saying he would never ever again support him for anything. Then when he was energy secretary he pissed off everyone in the West by forcing them to provide power to CA which Grey Davis refused to pay for. Relax.
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