Sweden is a security force for several Western countries in North Korea, including the United States, as they lack diplomatic representation in Pyongyang.
The mission includes mediating between North Korea and the United States on the possible disarmament of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, delegations for both countries met at Lidingö on October 4.
But the dialogue stopped after the meeting. Instead, North Korea set a deadline if the United States wants to resume negotiations. The deadline expires on New Year's Day. Now it is up to the United States what "Christmas present" they want, North Korea has said on an earlier occasion.
Sweden's special envoy for the Korean peninsula - Kent Härstedt - is few-worded when he states for SVT News. But he expresses concern about the situation.
- It is a historic window that will not be open forever. I don't think you can miss the chance to take advantage of it. There are reasons for concern when we are in this situation, he says on Monday.
This weekend, the Central Committee of North Korea's ruling party held an extra convened two-day meeting in Pyongyang. The meeting is led by North Korea's dictator Kim Jong Un and deals mainly with economic and military issues, state-controlled media reports.
At the meeting, North Korea's line with the US is expected to be anchored. On Sunday, US new security adviser Robert O'Brien said the US is ready to take action if North Korea completes its statement to deliver a "Christmas present".
"If Kim Jong Un acts that way, we will be extremely disappointed, and we will express that disappointment," he said in the interview with the American ABC.
But he also hinted that North Korea may have re-evaluated its Christmas gift statement. North Korea wants the US to lift its financial sanctions. Sweden's envoy on the Korean Peninsula looks seriously at the situation.
- This is serious. It is worrying that North Korea is sending a long-range robot or blasting test. The United States has sent reconnaissance aircraft and Japan has sent two fighters, says Kent Härstedt.
"Don't want to go into details"However, he declines to comment on the contacts Sweden has with the US and North Korea. Neither does US national security adviser Robert O'Brien want to comment on what he calls the communication channels in ABC's Sunday interview.
ABC: Have there been any contacts between the United States and North Korea since the meeting of Stephan Biegun in early October?
- I don't want to go into it. There are communication channels that are open between the US and North Korea, but I do not want to go into details about that communication, Robert O'Brien said.
Now the world is waiting with excitement for what signals North Korea's dictator Kim Jong Ung will send in his annual speech on New Year's Day.
- Many are waiting for Kim to give her speech on New Year's Day, says Kent Härstedt.
North Korea has not conducted any nuclear weapons testing or tested long-range robots since 2017.