First it was Kempinski Hotel Group, now just weeks later AP reports that Google Chairman Eric Schmidt will be travelling to North Korea, on a private, humanitarian mission led by former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

While the visit could take place imminently, there are few clues yet as to what the aims and objectives of the trip are. Indeed, North Korea has almost no business relations with companies in the U.S., which for its part has banned the import of most North Korean-made goods.