Whether Stephen Bosworth , the U . S . Department of State ’ s Special Representative for North Korea Policy departing to Pyongyang on December 8 , is carrying a letter from President Obama is generating much public interest . Bosworth is visiting the North as president Obama ’ s special envoy to urge the regime ’ s return to the six - party talks . A high official from the South Korean government said December 7 , “ The U . S . Department of State is known to had continued a profound discussion whether Bosworth will bring the president ’ s letter until very recently , ” yet stated , “ However , we are not able to confirm whether Bosworth will carry the president ’ s letter with him and pass on to the North Korean leader Kim Jong - il . ” With regards to a direct talk between the U . S . and North to take place in Pyongyang , the North is insisting a ‘ grave decision ’ between the two counties is a must , for example , signing of a peace treaty . On the other hand , the U . S . avoids defining it as a bilateral negotiation and emphasizing its intention of urging the North to return to the six - party talk . If Bosworth delivers Obama ’ s letter to Kim Jong - il , it can be considered as an indirect talk between the two leaders , and thus , it would be a breakthrough in a stalled bilateral relationship between the U . S . and North Korea . Bosworth will return to Seoul on December 10 to brief his visit to the South Korean government , and visit Beijing on December 11 , followed by Tokyo on December 12 and Moscow on December 13 . [ Written by Geun - woo Lee - Ye - sol Yi / edited by Jae - yoon Jung ] [ ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk . co . kr , All rights reserved ]