In the absence of normalized relations between the US and North Korea， so-called “Track Two” dialogue plays a key role in the relationship. From March 7 to 9， North Korea’s chief nuclear envoy， Vice Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho， made a rare visit to New York for a conference that illustrated both the opportunities for and obstacles to rapprochement between Pyongyang and Washington. Ri attended in the capacity of “consultant to the Institute for Disarmament and Peace” to satisfy the provisions of a Track Two