North Korea – Visit of Congressional Staff (Taken Question)

Question: What information can you provide about the visit of a Congressional Staff Delegation to North Korea? Did the State Department support this visit? Did someone from the Department accompany the group? Do you have any information about a reported gift delivered for Kim Jong Il?

Answer: We understand that a four-member delegation from the staff of the House Foreign Affairs Committee traveled to North Korea earlier this week on a fact-finding visit. Consistent with our efforts in previous instances to provide appropriate assistance, including a visit by Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff earlier this year, State Department officials briefed the staff members before their travel, but did not accompany the delegation.