Affable. Well-informed. Honest broker. These are some of the terms used to describe Mr Kim Myong Gil, North Korea's newly appointed chief nuclear negotiator who is slated to hold talks this week with the US Special Envoy for North Korea, Mr Stephen Biegun.
Experts say Mr Kim, 60, a veteran of international diplomacy with extensive experience in dealing with the US, can inject fresh optimism into the negotiations which have remained stalled for months. But they also warn that personal style and charisma may not matter much as the envoy is a mere messenger for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
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