WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Two top North Korean diplomats were traveling to Santa Fe , New Mexico , to hold talks with Gov . Bill Richardson , the governor 's spokesman said . Kim Myong Gil is a senior diplomat with the North Korean mission to the United Nations . Kim Myong Gil and Taek Jong Ho , senior diplomats with the North Korean mission to the United Nations , left New York on Tuesday and are scheduled for a two-day meeting with Richardson , said a U.S. source with knowledge of the visit and a senior State Department official . Richardson , a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , has traveled to North Korea several times in the past , most recently in April 2007 to secure the return of remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the Korean War . The U.S. source with knowledge of the visit said that the North Koreans had asked Richardson for the meeting . Richardson would listen to what the North Koreans had to say but would not do any negotiating , the source said . The three will meet at the governor 's mansion in Santa Fe for all-day talks Wednesday and then discuss renewable energy initiatives on Thursday , according to Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos . New Mexico is a leader in the United States in exploring renewable energy technologies . The visit comes on the heels of former President Bill Clinton 's trip to North Korea to gain the release of two U.S. journalists held in Pyongyang . Obama administration officials had said they hoped the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee would give North Korea a face-saving opportunity to return to talks aimed at ending its nuclear program . North Korea has said it would not return to the so-called six-party talks with the U.S. , South Korea , Japan , Russia and China . The New Mexico trip could signal that the North Korean regime was ready to re-engage with the international community , the source said . `` The timing is interesting , '' said the U.S. source . `` It 's two days . Interesting things can always be said . And any interesting thing can be passed on to the ( Obama ) administration . '' Because of existing sanctions on Pyongyang , North Korean diplomats serving at the mission to the United Nations are limited to travel within a 20-mile radius outside the New York city limits . The North Koreans had asked for permission to travel to New Mexico , and the State Department granted it , a senior State Department official told CNN . `` The North Koreans asked for permission to travel and as in the past , we have said yes , '' the official said . `` But we do n't know what they want to talk to Bill Richardson about . If the North Koreans want to talk , they know who to talk to . They can come back to the six-party process and tell us if they are ready to move toward denuclearization . '' CNN 's Chuck Johnston contributed to this report .
Richardson : Richardson would be listening but not negotiating . Richardson spokesman : Renewable energy initiatives to be discussed on Thursday . N. Korean envoys ' visit is on Thursday of former President Clinton 's trip to N. Korea . North Korea has said it would not agree to so - called Tea Party Talks .