One of President Bush's Republican allies on Wednesday urged the administration to allow the chief U.S. negotiator to pay a trust-building visit to North Korea.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, speaking to the Asia Society, also said she and a small group of other senators, concerned about the stalemate in North Korean nuclear talks, were trying to arrange a trip to Pyongyang.
She said the group does not have an invitation.
So far, Bush has not authorized the U.S. negotiator, Chris Hill, to visit North Korea, despite two invitations.
Murkowski, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said Hill would not have to bring any formal proposals because “just the significance of our chief negotiator going to Pyongyang is huge ... (and would show) we do want to build a relationship” with the North.
She also challenged administration policy, saying the U.S. focus should be to resolve the nuclear issue first and not tackle concerns about Pyongyang’s counterfeiting activities. A recent U.S. crackdown on these activities is seen by many as a major reason why Pyongyang has refused to return to the bargaining table.