Special envoys from Sweden are in North Korea as we speak.
There's speculation their visit is linked to a missing Australian student, who is feared to have been detained by the regime.
But the spokesperson for Sweden's foreign ministry told Radio Free Asia... that the envoys are visiting as part of Sweden's regular contacts with the North... and declined to comment on the missing student, Alek Sigley.
Australia recently asked for Sweden's help in resolving Sigley's possible detention as Canberra doesn't have an embassy in the North... though it has diplomatic relations with Pyeongyang.
North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported the North's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho met with the Swedish envoys and discussed bilateral relations.