http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2019/01/25/2019012501495.html

N.Korea Replaces Chief Negotiator in Talks with U.S.

January 25, 2019 12:00

North Korea has apparently replaced its chief negotiator in denuclearization talks with the U.S., with Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui handing over to the former ambassador to Spain, Kim Hyok-chol.

A diplomatic source in Washington said on Thursday, "It seems that the counterpart of U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun has changed to Kim Hyok-chol. Choe Son-hui would still engage in the negotiations, but behind Kim."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a speech via video conferencing at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday that Biegun had a chance to meet with his "newly designated counterpart."

Kim Hyok-chol visited the U.S. last week with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, Kim Yong-chol, and met U.S. President Donald Trump, Pompeo and Biegun at the White House.

A photo of the meeting shows Kim Hyok-chol sitting on a chair at the end of the row and watching Trump.

There was speculation that Pak Chol, the vice chairman of the North's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, would take over, but he seems to rank lower than Kim Hyok-chol.

Kim Hyok-chol was born in 1953 and graduated from Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies before joining the Foreign Ministry in 1993. He currently holds the rank of vice minister.

He was responsible for preparing Foreign Ministry reports sent to Kim Jong-un through First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan and is trusted by Kim Jong-un, according to a source.

He has worked in the North America and Japan sections of the Foreign Ministry and served as ambassador to Ethiopia, Sudan and Spain. He was expelled from Spain in 2017 after the North's repeated nuclear and missile provocations.

He also has experience in arms reduction negotiations from his time working at the North Korean mission in Geneva, Switzerland

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article225062225.html

TORONTO

Canadian police have made two arrests as part of a national security investigation that involves multiple police agencies including the FBI.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the two arrests in Kingston, Ontario in a statement late Thursday. A senior government official said it is related to national security and there is no threat to public safety. A law enforcement official confirmed the FBI's involvement. Both officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said in a statement the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other police partners "took action in Kingston, Ontario, based on credible information, to ensure public safety."

"The Government of Canada constantly monitors all potential threats and has robust measures in place to address them," Goodale said. "Canadians can be confident that whenever credible information is obtained about a potential threat, the RCMP, CSIS and other police and security agencies take the appropriate steps to ensure the security of this country and the safety of its citizens."

CSIS is Canada's spy agency. The RCMP is expected to release more details a news conference in Kingston on Friday.

Several police vans and uniformed officers are at a residence on a street just northwest of the city's downtown. Kingston is about 160 miles (257 kilometers) east of Toronto.

http://meta.mk/en/soros-i-am-not-involved-in-the-events-in-macedonia/

Brussels, 9 June, 2016 - 20:28 (META)

Boban Nonkovic, who reports for the state new agency MIA, today in Brussels caused a stir when he and other journalists began asking the Hungarian Billionaire, and sponsor of the “Open Society Foundation”, George Soros, whether he wants to destroy the country through the crisis and unrest.

Nonkovic retorted that during the reign of the VMRO-DPMNE, the country had become a “champion in promoting Roma rights, during elections for Ministers, Mayors, MPs and executives in public institutions”, and claimed that some of those protesting in the country are self-proclaimed “Sorosoids” and openly support the opposition, the SDSM.

“I’m afraid that I have already answered the question on Macedonia. I’m not actually the personally involved in the foundation in Macedonia. I have a foundation there consisting of Macedonian trustees. And they are the ones to decide the course of the foundation. They have to answer your question”, said Soros.

http://meta.mk/en/zaev-meets-soros-at-davos/

Davos, 24 January, 2019 - 17:46 (META)

At the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev met with philanthropist and financier George Soros, founder of the Open Society Foundations (FOI) and Patrick Gaspard, president of the FOI, the government said.

“The membership of the Republic of Macedonia in NATO and integration into the European Union was assessed as key steps that provide stability and security for the country and the region, and open the door for new foreign investments, for the development of the Macedonian economy and for improving the quality of life of the citizens,” said a statement sent by the government.

Zaev and Soros, say the Government, exchanged ideas for intensifying the cooperation between the Government and the Open Society Foundations to provide better facilities for care and preschool education for children and for greater involvement in the lives of Roma citizens in various spheres of social flows in Macedonia.

The conversation emphasized the importance of the National Strategy for Society and Multiculturalism, as well as the need for the intensive participation of the civil sector in the creation and implementation of the Strategy in order to support the social trend of promoting the trust and communication between different citizens and communities in the Republic Macedonia.