Ban discussing dates for North Korea Visit

By Park Sae-jin Posted : November 24, 2015, 10:42 Updated : November 24, 2015, 10:42

Ban Ki-moon is in discussion with North Korea to decide the visiting dates.   [AJU NEWS DB]



U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he was discussing with North Korea the dates for his visit to the isolated state.

"We are discussing when would be the good time for me to visit the North, but so far nothing has been decided," he told South Korean reporters at the United Nations on Monday.

Ban, who is South Korean, also said he received "positive signs" from Pyongyang recently following his talks with the North's foreign minister who visited the United Nations recently.

If Ban’s visit takes place, it may signal a shift by North Korea toward re-engagement with the international community under its young leader Kim Jong-un, analysts have said.

Ban had earlier this year made plans to visit an industrial park in the North operated jointly by the two Koreas. But Pyongyang withdrew approval for the trip at the last minute without explanation.

Ban served as South Korea's foreign minister from 2004 to 2006, a period of intense multinational negotiations aimed at ending the North's nuclear program. Those talks led to a 2005 deal that later fell apart.

According to a poll published early this month in Aju Business Daily, Ban is the most favored among potential candidates for the 2017 presidential election, according to a poll published early this month in Aju Business Daily. .

Ban received 21.1 per cent of public support with ruling Saenuri party leader Kim Moo-sung and opposition party chief Moon Jae-in jointly placed the second with 12.5 percent each, according to the poll conducted by Hangil Research from Nov 10 to 13.

Ban has repeatedly said he is not interested in running for the presidency, but pollsters have included Ban in their presidential gal straw polls. In April, Ban said he wants to spend time taking care of his grandchildren after his retirement.

By Alex Lee
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