Without a doubt not exactly the best timing from the U.S.:

North Korea criticized the United States Saturday for appointing a special envoy to monitor its human rights conditions, calling the move a “not good omen” ahead of a new round of nuclear disarmament talks. On Aug. 19, the White House named Jay Lefkowitz, a conservative hard-liner, as a new State Department envoy charged with improving the abysmal human rights conditions in North Korea…

North Korea’s response:

“If the U.S. continues to act this way and cast chills on our generosity and flexibility, we cannot help but think otherwise… The U.S. will find out what this means for itself and give itself deep thoughts.”

While the idea that the North has shown any ‘generosity and flexibility’ is absurd, as I said above, not the best timing.

On the other hand, NK could take this from a different angle, if they really want to resolve outstanding issues and move towards normalization; Mr. Lefkowitz could be seen as the person to work with to overcome their past/present issues and move towards becoming a legit member of the international community.

If the North were sincere, that’s what they would do. But I doubt they are, and know they won’t.