Kim Gye-gwan
| Kim Kye-gwan | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 김계관 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | 金桂官 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Gye(-)gwan |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Kyegwan |
Kim Kye-gwan (Korean pronunciation: [kim.ɡe.ɡwan]; born July 6, 1943 in North Pyongan Province) is a North Korean diplomat. His official position is First Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to which he was promoted (from just Vice Minister) immediately before the Korean Workers' Party Conference of 28 September 2010. He is the leading figure in international talks over the country's nuclear weapons program, including the six-party talks in Beijing.
North Korea agreed 2007-02-13, with the help of Kim Kye Gwan, to disarm their nuclear program. This includes shutting down its nuclear reactor and eventually dismantling its atomic weapons program, just four months after the communist state shocked the world by testing a nuclear bomb. Kim Kye Gwan is North Korea's leading spokesperson and head negotiator in matters concerning the North's nuclear ambitions, and will most likely enter the limelight for his role in facilitating North Korea's Nuclear Disarmament deal struck in February.
Kim met with Christopher R. Hill, the U.S. assistant secretary of state, when Hill visited Pyongyang in June 2007, afterwards announcing that North Korea would promptly shut down its Yongbyon nuclear facility.
He was also present at the airport to greet Bill Clinton on his arrival in North Korea for a visit in August 2009 concerning the release of two American journalists imprisoned by North Korea.
He was also present at the airport to greet Jimmy Carter on his arrival in North Korea for a visit in August 2010 concerning the release of an American teacher imprisoned by North Korea.
In December 2010, Kim invited the serving Governor of the U.S. State of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, to North Korea in an unofficial capacity. He met Richardson upon his arrival in Pyongyang on December 16, where Richardson told reporters that his "objective is to see if we can reduce the tension on the Korean peninsula, that is my objective. I am going to have a whole series of talks with North Korean officials here and I look forward to my discussions", he said.
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