Former US President Jimmy Carter has met with DPRK foreign minister, Pak Ui Chun, in Pyongyang on Tuesday.

 

Carter's delegation includes three other former state leaders. They are hoping to facilitate an easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

However, South Korea's foreign minister is not optimistic on what can be achieved from the trip. Cui Lingnan has the story.

It's the third time former US President Jimmy Carter has unofficially visited Pyongyang.

At the airport, Carter was greeted by Ri Yong Ho, vice foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Three former state leaders accompanying Carter are former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Brundtland and former Irish President Mary Robinson.

The quartet want to meet DPRK's leaders Kim Jong-Il and Kim Jong-un, to press for a resumption of dialogue between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea.

They will also discuss ways to help alleviate the country's food shortages as well as denuclearization on the peninsula.

In the meantime, South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said the trip is purely personal, and what can be expected from it is also limited. He also stressed multiple dialogue channels between the south and north are still viable. Local media interpreted the remark as hinting and urging the DPRK to seek direct dialogue.

And according to broadcaster KBS, the delegation would meet with Kim Sung-hwan and South Korea's Unification Minister.