North Korea Monitor

The Chosun Ilbo is reporting that Kim Jong Il plans to attend the February 26th performance of the New York Philharmonic. The Chosun also quotes Radio Free Asia speculating that Condelezza Rice may also be in attendance. Rice, who will be on the Korean Peninsula for Lee Myung Bak’s February 25thn inauguration, currently has no official plans to fly to Pyongyang but RFA says a change in itinerary is always possible. Quoting the article:

RFA quoted a diplomatic source in Washington as saying the North had announced Kim’s plan to watch the concert, expecting a “corresponding” U.S. top official to come.

This may be State’s last best chance to resolve the current dispute over progress in the Six-Party Talks its way, before hardliners get the upper hand.