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U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon to visit Pyongyang this week

Posted November. 17, 2015 12:03,   

한국어

Yonhap News reported Sunday (local time) that United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will visit Pyongyang in North Korea, sometime this week, citing an unnamed high ranking U.N. source in New York. Yonhap said Ban is also expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, citing a source who said, "There cannot be such a situation where the U.N. secretary general visits North Korea and does not meet with the supreme leader of the U.N. member state."

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has always said that he is ready to play any role in order to help enhance dialogue, stability and peace on the Korean Peninsula, but added that he has no further comment at this time over Ban`s possible visit to North Korea.

On May 21, Ban had planned to visit the Kaesong business complex, but the trip was called off at the last minute because Pyongyang abruptly withdrew its invitation for him. Ban has still continued to push for his North Korea visit, and people within and outside the U.N. talked about November being an optimal time. U.N. sources say that though they can`t confirm the exact time for Ban`s North Korea visit, there is high possibility that he will make a visit in November.

Ban will be the third U.N. secretary general to visit North Korea after Kurt Waldheim in 1979 and Boutros Boutros-Ghali in 1993. Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan had also tried to visit North Korea several times but in vain due to political conditions and schedule. Foreign policy experts say that if Ban visits Pyongyang it will be reflecting Kim Jong Un`s strong intention for it, adding Kim will try to send messages to the U.S. and major countries through a meeting with the U.N. secretary general, a symbolic figure for the global community.

A high ranking official at South Korea`s presidential office on Monday (local time) in Turkey where the G-20 summit is being held was asked about Ban`s visit to Pyongyang, and said "I haven`t heard about it. I know nothing about it."



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