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South Korea: Two Missing as Massive Fire Rages at North Chungcheong Manufacturing Plant

A massive fire broke out at a manufacturing plant in Duseong-ri, Maengdong-myeon, Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, on Friday, January 30, spreading to a nearby mountain and leaving two people missing. Authorities issued a Level 2 fire response alert and are investigating the whereabouts of two employees believed to be inside the factory building.

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Yongbyon reactor included in disablement plan: N. Korea envoy

SHENYANG, China - Ri Gun, North Korea's representative at talks on its nuclear abandonment, speaks to reporters at a hotel in the northeastern Chinese city Shenyang on Saturday, a day after attending a two-day meeting of a working group under the six-party process on North Korea's denuclearization. He says a key nuclear reactor in Yongbyon will be one of the facilities that will be disabled as part of the second stage of the country's denuclearization.

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N. Korea talks end with 'basis' for 2nd denuclearization phase

SHENYANG, China - North Korean nuclear envoy Ri Gun (L) and chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill look relaxed during their visit to the Imperial Palace Museum in Shenyang after two-day talks aimed at shutting down North Korea's nuclear program on Aug. 17. Hill said later that the nuclear envoys from six countries laid a ''basis for achieving a consensus'' on North Korea's tasks in the second stage of its denuclearization.

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N. Korea talks end with 'basis' for 2nd denuclearization phase

SHENYANG, China - (From L to R) Russia's Grigory Berdennikov, North Korea's Ri Gun, the United States' Christopher Hill, China's Wu Dawei, South Korea's Chun Yung Woo and Japan's Akio Suda pose for a photo during their visit to the Imperial Palace Museum in Shenyang after two-day talks aimed at shutting down North Korea's nuclear program on Aug. 17. Hill said later the nuclear envoys laid a ''basis for achieving a consensus'' on North Korea's tasks in the second stage of its denuclearization.

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6-way working group meets for second day of talks

SHENYANG, China - North Korea's representative Ri Gun heads for a second-day meeting held by six countries in China's Shenyang on Aug. 17 to discuss the technical details of the next stage of North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear programs. (Pool photo)

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Envoys begin gathering in Shenyang for N. Korea working group talks

SHENYANG, China - Ri Gun (far left), director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's American affairs bureau, arrives at Shenyang airport in northeastern China to represent his country in a two-day working group meeting to discuss the specifics of the next stage toward Pyongyang's nuclear abandonment.

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North Korea official in Germany

BERLIN, Germany - Ri Gun (front R), director of the U.S. Affairs Department at North Korea's Foreign Ministry, leaves after attending a seminar in the suburbs of Berlin, Germany, on April 1, 2012.

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North Korean diplomat heads for Germany

BEIJING, China - Ri Gun, director of the U.S. Affairs Department at North Korea's Foreign Ministry, answers reporters' questions at Beijing's international airport on March 30, 2012, prior to his departure for Berlin. Ri is scheduled to attend a symposium beginning the following day near Berlin.

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King in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Robert King, U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights, answers questions from reporters in Beijing on Dec. 16, 2011, after holding two days of talks with Ri Gun, director of the U.S. Affairs Department at North Korea's Foreign Ministry, on possible U.S. food aid to Pyongyang.

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U.S. evangelist in N. Korea

PYONGYANG, North Korea - U.S. evangelist Franklin Graham (front L) and Ri Gun, director of the U.S. Affairs Department at North Korea's Foreign Ministry, shake hands as the North Korean official welcomed Graham at Pyongyang airport on May 10, 2011.

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Ex-U.S. envoy Pritchard ends 4-day trip to N. Korea

BEIJING, China - Charles Pritchard, a former U.S. special envoy for Korean peace talks, is surrounded by reporters at Beijing airport on Nov. 24, 2009, after returning from a four-day trip to North Korea. Richardson said his three-member group held about six hours of discussions with Ri Gun, director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's North American affairs bureau.

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U.S., N. Korean officials meet in N.Y. over 6-way talks

NEW YORK, United States - Ri Gun, director general of the North American affairs bureau of North Korea's Foreign Ministry, speaks to reporters after meeting U.S. officials at the U.S. office of the United Nations in New York on Oct. 24, 2009. They met to discuss ways to bring Pyongyang back to the stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks, the first direct bilateral contact since the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama was launched in January.

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Hill leaves Pyongyang after 'good' discussions with counterpart

PYONGYANG, North Korea - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill (L) shakes hands with Ri Gun, director of the U.S. Affairs Department at the North Korean Foreign Ministry, before leaving Pyongyang airport on June 22. (This photo is allowed to be used only by newspapers and TV and not allowed to be used on the Internet)

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U.S. nuke envoy on surprise N. Korea visit

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Top U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill (L) is greeted on arrival at Pyongyang airport by Ri Gun, director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's American Affairs Bureau, on June 21. He made the surprise visit for talks on implementation of a denuclearization deal.

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N. Korea holds talks with U.S. in New York

NEW YORK, United States - Ri Gun, director general of the American Affairs Bureau of the North Korean Foreign Ministry, leaves talks with the United States over U.S. financial sanctions.

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N. Korea holds talks with U.S. in New York

NEW YORK, United States - Ri Gun, director general of the American Affairs Bureau of the North Korean Foreign Ministry, heads for talks with the United States over U.S. financial sanctions.

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N. Korean official asks U.S. to withdraw 'tyranny' remark

NEW YORK, United States - Ri Gun, director of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's U.S. Affairs Department, speaks to reporters July 1 in New York after attending an informal gathering of representatives from China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States.

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N. Korea delegate says no change in stance ahead of talks

BEIJING, China - Ri Gun, North Korea's chief delegate to the working-group meeting of six countries dealing with Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, arrives at Beijing airport on June 19 to attend the meeting. He said there is no change in the country's stance ahead of the talks, which begin June 21.

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N. Korea urges U.S. to soften demand for complete nuke scrapping

BEIJING, China - Ri Gun, who headed the North Korean delegation at the six-party working-group talks, is about to leave Beijing airport on May 15. Speaking with reporters before his departure, Ri urged the United States to change its stance in demanding Pyongyang completely scrap its nuclear programs so the six nations can make progress in future talks.

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N. Korean delegation arrives in Beijing for 6-way talks

BEIJING, China - The head of North Korea's delegation, Ri Gun, who is deputy head of the North Korean Foreign ministry's U.S. Affairs Department, arrives in Beijing Capital International Airport May 11 to attend the working-group meeting of six countries dealing with the country's nuclear ambitions set to begin May 12.

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A railway bridge where the No Gun Ri massacre took place is pockmarked with bullet holes highlighted by white lines in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea,

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A copperplate etching showing people demanding an apology and compensation from the United States is seen in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said the

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A memorial tower to commemorate the No Gun Ri massacre is seen in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said the AP report. Some 400 refugees were killed

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A statue is seen at the No Gun Ri Peace Park in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said the AP report. Some 400 refugees were killed in the massacre,

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A statue is seen at the No Gun Ri Peace Park in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said the AP report. Some 400 refugees were killed in the massacre,

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition area is seen at the No Gun Ri Peace Memorial in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said the AP report. Some 400 refugees were killed in

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A train runs on a railway bridge with white lines marking the bullet holes left during the No Gun Ri massacre in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Bullet holes left during the No Gun Ri massacre are seen in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said the AP report. Some 400 refugees were killed in th

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A railway bridge where the No Gun Ri massacre took place is pockmarked with bullet holes highlighted by white lines in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea,

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A railway bridge where the No Gun Ri massacre took place is pockmarked with bullet holes highlighted by white lines in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea,

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A statue is seen at the No Gun Ri Peace Park in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said the AP report. Some 400 refugees were killed in the massacre,

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SOUTH KOREA-YEONGDONG-NO GUN RI

(220729) -- CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO, July 29, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A statue to commemorate the No Gun Ri massacre is seen in Yeongdong County in Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea, on July 28, 2022. The No Gun Ri massacre, one of the deadliest assaults the U.S. army had committed during the Korean War, had been buried deep in history, until The Associated Press uncovered the horrible tragedy in 1999. After the outbreak of the war, U.S. troops soon suffered setbacks while forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were marching forward. On July 26, 1950, out of the fear that the DPRK guerrilla troops might disguise themselves as refugees, U.S. commanders ordered units retreating through South Korea to shoot civilians. A throng of refugees, many of them women and children, were killed in an air attack and by small- and heavy-weapons fire of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment at a railroad bridge near the village of No Gun Ri in central South Korea, said the AP report. Some 400 refugees were killed in the

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Yongbyon reactor included in disablement plan: N. Korea envoy

SHENYANG, China - Ri Gun, North Korea's representative at talks on its nuclear abandonment, speaks to reporters at a hotel in the northeastern Chinese city Shenyang on Saturday, a day after attending a two-day meeting of a working group under the six-party process on North Korea's denuclearization. He says a key nuclear reactor in Yongbyon will be one of the facilities that will be disabled as part of the second stage of the country's denuclearization. (Kyodo)

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N. Korea talks end with 'basis' for 2nd denuclearization phase

SHENYANG, China - North Korean nuclear envoy Ri Gun (L) and chief U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill look relaxed during their visit to the Imperial Palace Museum in Shenyang after two-day talks aimed at shutting down North Korea's nuclear program on Aug. 17. Hill said later that the nuclear envoys from six countries laid a ''basis for achieving a consensus'' on North Korea's tasks in the second stage of its denuclearization. (Kyodo)

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N. Korea talks end with 'basis' for 2nd denuclearization phase

SHENYANG, China - (From L to R) Russia's Grigory Berdennikov, North Korea's Ri Gun, the United States' Christopher Hill, China's Wu Dawei, South Korea's Chun Yung Woo and Japan's Akio Suda pose for a photo during their visit to the Imperial Palace Museum in Shenyang after two-day talks aimed at shutting down North Korea's nuclear program on Aug. 17. Hill said later the nuclear envoys laid a ''basis for achieving a consensus'' on North Korea's tasks in the second stage of its denuclearization. (Kyodo)

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6-way working group meets for second day of talks

SHENYANG, China - North Korea's representative Ri Gun heads for a second-day meeting held by six countries in China's Shenyang on Aug. 17 to discuss the technical details of the next stage of North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear programs. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

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Envoys begin gathering in Shenyang for N. Korea working group ta

SHENYANG, China - Ri Gun (far left), director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's American affairs bureau, arrives at Shenyang airport in northeastern China to represent his country in a two-day working group meeting to discuss the specifics of the next stage toward Pyongyang's nuclear abandonment. (Kyodo)

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N. Korean diplomat arrives in Beijing for talks with U.S.

BEIJING, China - Ri Gun (R), head of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's American affairs bureau, arrives at Beijing's international airport on a regular flight from Pyongyang on July 31. Ri will meet with Sung Kim, U.S. special envoy on the six-party process for denuclearizing North Korea, in the Chinese capital. (Kyodo)

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N. Korean official asks U.S. to withdraw 'tyranny' remark

NEW YORK, United States - Ri Gun, director of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's U.S. Affairs Department, speaks to reporters July 1 in New York after attending an informal gathering of representatives from China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States. (Kyodo)

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Hill leaves Pyongyang after 'good' discussions with counterpart

PYONGYANG, North Korea - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill (L) shakes hands with Ri Gun, director of the U.S. Affairs Department at the North Korean Foreign Ministry, before leaving Pyongyang airport on June 22. (This photo is allowed to be used only by newspapers and TV and not allowed to be used on the Internet)(Kyodo)

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U.S. nuke envoy on surprise N. Korea visit

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Top U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill (L) is greeted on arrival at Pyongyang airport by Ri Gun, director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's American Affairs Bureau, on June 21. He made the surprise visit for talks on implementation of a denuclearization deal. (Kyodo)

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N. Korea delegate says no change in stance ahead of talks

BEIJING, China - Ri Gun, North Korea's chief delegate to the working-group meeting of six countries dealing with Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, arrives at Beijing airport on June 19 to attend the meeting. He said there is no change in the country's stance ahead of the talks, which begin June 21. (Kyodo)

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N. Korea urges U.S. to soften demand for complete nuke scrapping

BEIJING, China - Ri Gun, who headed the North Korean delegation at the six-party working-group talks, is about to leave Beijing airport on May 15. Speaking with reporters before his departure, Ri urged the United States to change its stance in demanding Pyongyang completely scrap its nuclear programs so the six nations can make progress in future talks. (Kyodo)

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N. Korean delegation arrives in Beijing for 6-way talks

BEIJING, China - The head of North Korea's delegation, Ri Gun, who is deputy head of the North Korean Foreign ministry's U.S. Affairs Department, arrives in Beijing Capital International Airport May 11 to attend the working-group meeting of six countries dealing with the country's nuclear ambitions set to begin May 12. (Kyodo)

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U.S. delegation led by Richardson arrives in N. Korea

PYONGYANG, North Korea - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (L) is greeted by Ri Gun, director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's American affairs bureau, on arrival at Pyongyang airport on April 8. Richardson heads a U.S. delegation sent to collect the remains of American soldiers who went missing in the Korean War. (KCNA-Kyodo)

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N. Korea holds talks with U.S. in New York

NEW YORK, United States - Ri Gun, director general of the American Affairs Bureau of the North Korean Foreign Ministry, leaves talks with the United States over U.S. financial sanctions. (Kyodo)

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N. Korea holds talks with U.S. in New York

NEW YORK, United States - Ri Gun, director general of the American Affairs Bureau of the North Korean Foreign Ministry, heads for talks with the United States over U.S. financial sanctions. (Kyodo)

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(CORRECTED) Ex-U.S. envoy Pritchard ends 4-day trip to N. Korea

BEIJING, China - Charles Pritchard, a former U.S. special envoy for Korean peace talks, is surrounded by reporters at Beijing airport on Nov. 24, 2009, after returning from a four-day trip to North Korea. Pritchard said his three-member group held about six hours of discussions with Ri Gun, director general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's North American affairs bureau. (Kyodo)

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U.S. evangelist in N. Korea

PYONGYANG, North Korea - U.S. evangelist Franklin Graham (front L) and Ri Gun, director of the U.S. Affairs Department at North Korea's Foreign Ministry, shake hands as the North Korean official welcomed Graham at Pyongyang airport on May 10, 2011. (Kyodo)

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North Korea official in Germany

BERLIN, Germany - Ri Gun (front R), director of the U.S. Affairs Department at North Korea's Foreign Ministry, leaves after attending a seminar in the suburbs of Berlin, Germany, on April 1, 2012. (Kyodo)