Sweden sold Volvos to North Korea in the 70s – and now it could be the key to STOPPING nuclear war
HUNDREDS of Volvos sold to North Korea in the 1970s could be the answer to solving the nuclear crisis, experts predict.
Sweden could be the nation to broker a peace deal between the US and North Korea and avoid a potential nuclear war over Guam.
The sale of around 800 saloons almost 50 years ago placed Sweden in an unusual tie-up with the communist country - and the relationship continues today even though North Korea never paid for the cars.
While the deal might have failed to deliver the commercial benefits Volvo hoped for, it may now help stave off World War 3.
Ulv Hanssen, research assistant and associate fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, said the Scandinavian country could play role of intermediary between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.
Sweden often plays a diplomatic role in negotiating with the North Korean regime and is part of the commissions set up after the Korean War to oversee the North and South Korea armistice.
Hanssen said: "Sweden has done so on numerous occasions before, especially in relation to imprisoned Americans.
"Acting as a mediator between two states on the brink of war is unquestionably a very demanding task, but Sweden has the advantage of enjoying the trust of not only Washington, but also Pyongyang"
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Sweden was the first Western European nation to establish diplomatic relations with the North, in 1973, and the first to set up an embassy in Pyongyang in 1975.
It also sends large amounts of humanitarian aid to North Korea through the United Nations and Red Cross.
As for the models, they're still being used as taxis in major North Korean cities.
A recent picture emerged of one of the 70s saloons with almost 500,000km on the clock.
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