The World : U.S. Lifts Rule on N. Korea

The State Department has lifted a ban on substantive conversations between U.S. and North Korean diplomats. Spokesman Charles Redman expressed hope that the action will allow diplomats to “be available, to listen” and might lead to relaxed tensions between North and South Korea. Redman said the new instructions “allow U.S. diplomats to respond substantively when North Koreans initiate conversations in neutral settings.” He said U.S. diplomats had been limited to “social interchanges” with their North Korean counterparts.