WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (Reuters) – The White House said on
Monday it was “deeply disappointed” by North Korea’s decision to
rescind an invitation to U.S. envoy Robert King to visit
Pyongyang to discuss the release of imprisoned U.S. missionary
Kenneth Bae.
It is the second time that Pyongyang has rescinded an
invitation to King, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. He
told reporters at a regular briefing that the United States
remained prepared to send the envoy to North Korea.
Carney said military exercises planned by the United States
and South Korea were “transparent, regularly scheduled and
defense oriented. These exercises are in no way linked to Mr.
Bae’s case, and we believe they know that.”
(Reporting by Roberta Rampton and Steve Holland; Editing by
David Storey)
