Washington (CNN) -- In 1994, on the eve of his trip to North Korea to persuade Kim Il Sung to negotiate with the Clinton administration over its nuclear program, Jimmy Carter had a series of briefings at the State Department. After several hours, Carter looked around the room at the group of diplomats assembled and said, "None of you have told me what I need to know," according to a former State Department official involved in briefing the former president. "You haven't told me what Kim Il Sung wants," Carter told his briefers. "What he wants is my respect. And I am going to give it to him."
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Carter likely to repeat his 1994 tactic: Give the North Korean leader respect
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A Carter trip to Pyongyang has been in the works for weeks, professor says
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Restarting talks with the United States is North Korea's top goal, he says
In fact, the North Koreans have been looking for a visit from @placeholder for some time.
"I think President @placeholder has a keen interest in reducing tensions on the [Korean] peninsula," Park said.