Pyongyang Minister Won't Attend Talks

Paek Nam-sun, North Korea's foreign minister, will not participate in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations in Hanoi next week, it was reported Thursday.

"North Korea reported to the host of the meeting, Vietnam, that for various domestic political reasons, Mr. Paek will not be able to participate," a diplomatic source said. "Instead, a delegation of three representatives led by a vice-ministerial-level ambassador will participate."

South Korea had hoped that the ASEAN forum would provide an opportunity for the top foreign policymakers of the United States and the two Koreas to begin to narrow their differences.

The South Korean government will not seek to hold separate inter-Korean talks outside the forum, the source said.