DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in the Spotlight

(Image source- JTBC News 9.29 ) Quarter final full court press. China, Russia continuing to Japan, meeting one after another

Ri Yong Ho gave his speech at the UN on Sep. 29 which has been reported on somewhat dismissively in the US press. He also met with the Foreign Ministers of China, Russia and Japan on Friday. Ri met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on September 26. The Korean Herald reports Ri declined to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Hwa at the UN. Mike Pompeo accepted Ri's invitation to visit North Korea in October to discuss arrangements for a second summit meeting with the US President Donald Trump. It's pretty clear from the UN speeches presented by the foreign ministers of China and Russia, and the President of South Korea, that they support the step by step, reciprocal trust building measures approach to negotiations that Ri Yong Ho alluded to in his speech.

Pompeo had already expressed a preference for dealing with Ri Yong Ho according to one South Korean analyst. In other words, Pompeo didn't want to speak to DPRK Vice Chairman Kim Yong Chol anymore, he's too blunt. According to a 2017 LA Times characterization of Ri, he is experienced dealing with US negotiators, speaks excellent English, is soft spoken, and has a good sense of humor.

The South Koreans, except for the conservative elements, have high expectations of the Pompeo visit to North Korea which is expected to take place soon in October. It appears that most South Korean analysts think that Trump will not meet with Kim Jong Un until after the November elections.