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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Spare rib diplomacy in Pyongyang | Spare rib diplomacy in Pyongyang |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Nikki Jecks BBC World Service FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | By Nikki Jecks BBC World Service FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| Bobby Egan, a New Jersey restaurateur whose speciality is barbecue joints and spare ribs, has become an unlikely middleman between North Korea and the United States. | Bobby Egan, a New Jersey restaurateur whose speciality is barbecue joints and spare ribs, has become an unlikely middleman between North Korea and the United States. |
| On the surface, Bobby Egan might look like any other small town New Jersey businessman. | On the surface, Bobby Egan might look like any other small town New Jersey businessman. |
| His accent is straight out of the popular American TV drama The Sopranos and he admits having brushes with the law in his youth; he once toyed with joining the mafia. | |
| These days he runs Cubby's, a barbecue restaurant in Hackensack, popular for its menu of all-American dishes. | These days he runs Cubby's, a barbecue restaurant in Hackensack, popular for its menu of all-American dishes. |
| But for the past 17 years Bobby Egan has also acted as an unofficial go-between with the North Korean delegation at the UN and the White House. | But for the past 17 years Bobby Egan has also acted as an unofficial go-between with the North Korean delegation at the UN and the White House. |
| The North Korean diplomats are mostly shunned by fellow missions, restricted in their movements by the US and discouraged by their own government from fraternising with foreigners. | The North Korean diplomats are mostly shunned by fellow missions, restricted in their movements by the US and discouraged by their own government from fraternising with foreigners. |
| But Bobby Egan has won their trust with his unusual brand of diplomacy - free meals, fishing expeditions and football games. | But Bobby Egan has won their trust with his unusual brand of diplomacy - free meals, fishing expeditions and football games. |
| I would say at this point better to make them a friend than a foe Bobby Egan | I would say at this point better to make them a friend than a foe Bobby Egan |
| His story is complicated - as is his relationship with the US authorities who are fully aware of his unusual friendships - but he has a unique insight into one of the most isolated countries on Earth. | His story is complicated - as is his relationship with the US authorities who are fully aware of his unusual friendships - but he has a unique insight into one of the most isolated countries on Earth. |
| "I had complete access to their whole country," he told the BBC World Service. | "I had complete access to their whole country," he told the BBC World Service. |
| The North Koreans "are a powerhouse in that region, and I would say at this point better to make them a friend than a foe". | The North Koreans "are a powerhouse in that region, and I would say at this point better to make them a friend than a foe". |
| Informal contact | Informal contact |
| Mr Egan first came in touch with the secretive North Koreans via another unlikely contact - the Vietnamese mission to the UN. | Mr Egan first came in touch with the secretive North Koreans via another unlikely contact - the Vietnamese mission to the UN. |
| In the late 1980s he got involved in the issue of whether POWs remained in Vietnam and Laos following the end of the war there. | In the late 1980s he got involved in the issue of whether POWs remained in Vietnam and Laos following the end of the war there. |
| He formed what he calls a "relationship" with the Vietnamese mission to the UN, simply by calling them up and offering to help with the issue. | He formed what he calls a "relationship" with the Vietnamese mission to the UN, simply by calling them up and offering to help with the issue. |
| It was the Vietnamese who in turn recommended him to the North Koreans as something of an "honest broker". | It was the Vietnamese who in turn recommended him to the North Koreans as something of an "honest broker". |
| Soon after, an informal relationship was started. | Soon after, an informal relationship was started. |
| "[UN Ambassador Ho Jong] told me that Kim Il-sung, who was the leader at the time, was open to possible dialogue with the US, and would I be interested in assisting them," he said. | "[UN Ambassador Ho Jong] told me that Kim Il-sung, who was the leader at the time, was open to possible dialogue with the US, and would I be interested in assisting them," he said. |
| Despite his unusual connections, Bobby says that not only were the North Koreans keen, so too were the Americans. | Despite his unusual connections, Bobby says that not only were the North Koreans keen, so too were the Americans. |
| Bobby says the North Koreans were sincere in their relationship with him | Bobby says the North Koreans were sincere in their relationship with him |
| "I've made some very good friends at the Department of Defense; we share intelligence, nothing is held back," he said. | "I've made some very good friends at the Department of Defense; we share intelligence, nothing is held back," he said. |
| "I've always had people encourage me to get them out and find out more about them and show them what the West is about, that they don't have anything to fear." | "I've always had people encourage me to get them out and find out more about them and show them what the West is about, that they don't have anything to fear." |
| His contacts with the North Koreans have allowed him to see a side of the "hermit" state that few manage to see. | His contacts with the North Koreans have allowed him to see a side of the "hermit" state that few manage to see. |
| He has visited the country four times, and overseen the delivery of aid supplies there as well. | He has visited the country four times, and overseen the delivery of aid supplies there as well. |
| "The North Korean government has made mistakes, like every other government," he said tentatively. | "The North Korean government has made mistakes, like every other government," he said tentatively. |
| But, he says, they do understand that their self-imposed isolation has come at a cost. | But, he says, they do understand that their self-imposed isolation has come at a cost. |
| "That's why they've had a guy like Bobby Egan showing them the different systems we have in the United States - I don't have to tell them their system's broke; they know it," he said. | "That's why they've had a guy like Bobby Egan showing them the different systems we have in the United States - I don't have to tell them their system's broke; they know it," he said. |
| "They know that it's time to change and that's why they are exploring these relationships with the West." | "They know that it's time to change and that's why they are exploring these relationships with the West." |
| "Misunderstood" | "Misunderstood" |
| He also believes the West should acknowledge the part it played shaping the North Korea of today. | He also believes the West should acknowledge the part it played shaping the North Korea of today. |
| "They are somewhat paranoid, but maybe there's a reason for that," he says, referring to Korea's division into two by America and Russia following the end of World War II. | "They are somewhat paranoid, but maybe there's a reason for that," he says, referring to Korea's division into two by America and Russia following the end of World War II. |
| They were actively exploring ways to change and mend relations with the West Bobby Egan | They were actively exploring ways to change and mend relations with the West Bobby Egan |
| Today Bobby firmly believes North Korea is misunderstood. | Today Bobby firmly believes North Korea is misunderstood. |
| "I think they are crying out for recognition. They're saying 'How about us?' They went years and years and years and didn't test a nuclear device." | "I think they are crying out for recognition. They're saying 'How about us?' They went years and years and years and didn't test a nuclear device." |
| He believes the "Axis of Evil" speech by former President George W Bush was the trigger, ratcheting up rhetoric on both sides, and ultimately resulting in North Korea reactivating a nuclear reactor and expelling international inspectors. | He believes the "Axis of Evil" speech by former President George W Bush was the trigger, ratcheting up rhetoric on both sides, and ultimately resulting in North Korea reactivating a nuclear reactor and expelling international inspectors. |
| Since then intensive diplomatic efforts to reign in North Korea's nuclear ambitions have stalled. | Since then intensive diplomatic efforts to reign in North Korea's nuclear ambitions have stalled. |
| So can Bobby Egan, restaurateur from New Jersey, convince North Korea to come out of isolation and give up their weapons programme and reach a rapprochement with the West? | So can Bobby Egan, restaurateur from New Jersey, convince North Korea to come out of isolation and give up their weapons programme and reach a rapprochement with the West? |
| He deflects the suggestion, and instead says the best chance is with the current US president. | He deflects the suggestion, and instead says the best chance is with the current US president. |
| "That's too big a job for me, that's a job for Barack Obama." | "That's too big a job for me, that's a job for Barack Obama." |