U.S. officials pay 2 secretive visits to N.K. for 8 months. August. 30, 2014 00:31. .

Ranking officials of the U.S. government paid a visit to North Korea in strict secrecy during the second half of last year, it was confirmed on Friday. The visit was taken in a way similar to U.S. officials visit by military aircraft right before the South Korea-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Guardian military drill this month.

A diplomatic source said, In early December last year, soon after senior U.S. government officials visit to the North, American Merrell Newman was released on the 42nd day of detention, adding, Afterwards, there was a push to organize a visit to North Korea by Robert King, the U.S. State Departments special envoy for human rights in the North to seek release of Korean American Kenneth Bae, who is in detention in the Stalinist country.

One month later in January this year, the U.S. government stated in an unusual move that We are ready to send Robert King, the special envoy for human rights in North Korea, to secure Baes release, and Pyongyang invited King to the North in February. However, as B-2 stealth bombers and B-52 strategic bombers, forces as part of the U.S. nuclear umbrella, flew into the Korean Peninsula to participate in the South Korea-U.S. Key Resolve joint military drill and displayed military protest, the North unilaterally cancelled its plan to invite the U.S. envoy.

The South Korean government understands that U.S. officials visit in mid-August was aimed at seeking release of three Americans detained in the North, including Bae, rather than pursuing full-blown negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington over the North Korean nuclear issue.

Another source said, To some extent, the U.S. is managing the North by leaving open behind-the-scene dialogue channels between Washington and Pyongyang, adding, Considering Pyongyangs current attitude, there seems to be no new special achievement or progress in the efforts to address the North Korean nuclear issue or in improving Pyongyang-Washington ties. Nonetheless, the Seoul government is paying keen attention to change in North Korea-U.S. relations and impact on inter-Korean dialogue if and when Bae, who has been detained in the North for 1 year and 10 months, and others are freed from the communist country.