N. Korean officials offered to visit Pres. Park before Incheon visit

A day before the three senior North Korean officials visited Incheon for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games on Oct. 4, they proposed to pay a visit to South Korean President Park Geun-hye, a source in Seoul said Wednesday.

Previously, it was reported that Seoul proposed a visit to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, only to be rejected by the North Korean officials. The proposal was actually made by Pyongyang during the process of coordinating their visits to Incheon, the source claimed.

According to the source, Pyongyang informed Seoul on Oct. 3 via a liaison officer of the North Korean athletic delegation of the visit by the trio, including Hwang Pyong So, chief of the General Political Bureau of the North Korean military. As the two sides were discussing their schedule, Pyongyang asked if they could visit President Park. In response, Seoul said that they could meet with her, the source said.

This suggests that the three North Korean officials intended, at least on Oct. 3, to visit the South Korean president with a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un or wanted to see if Cheong Wa Dae was willing to accept their visit. The South Korean government views that with Seoul`s confirmation of its willingness to allow their visit to President Park, the North weighed its losses and gains from the visit until the last minute with regards to the upcoming second round of high-level inter-Korean talks.

When South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae offered to arrange a visit during a luncheon with the three North Korean officials on Oct. 4, the North Koreans declined it. "We cannot find the time due to our tight schedule this time. We can expect another opportunity in the future," the North Korean officials were quoted by saying.

Seoul is paying attention to the reason why the North withdrew its offer of a visit to Cheong Wa Dae. The South Korean government views that such an offer suggests Pyongyang`s will to continue dialogue. Given that President Park called for "continued dialogue" on Monday despite the aborted visit, the president seems to have determined to maintain the momentum, which she understands Pyongyang is willing to come to the negotiating table.