SENIOR North Korean diplomat Choe Kang Il, who handles North American affairs, flew to Finland today for an expected meeting with US diplomats and South Korean security officials.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said that Mr Choe had been seen at a Beijing airport before boarding a flight to Finland, suggesting that former US ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens would be among those he meets in Helsinki.

The Foreign Ministry in Seoul suggested that the gathering would be similar to the so-called “Track 2” dialogue that has involved North Korean officials and former US officials and experts and could presage a meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.