UN ambassador visits North Korea this week

new york - UN Envoy Jeffrey Feltman will visit North Korea from Tuesday to Friday to discuss 'issues of mutual interest and concern.' The United Nations reported this Monday amid rising tensions in the region.

Feltman, head of political affairs at the UN and former staff officer of the US Department of State, will meet with North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and his sub-minister Pak Myong Guk, a spokesman for the UN said.

The invitation to Feltman's visit came from North Korea on the sidelines of the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations in September, but was only confirmed last week. Feltman is the first staff officer to travel to North Korea since the visit of his predecessor Lynn Pascoe in February 2010 and former UN official Valerie Amos in October 2011.