Ban says talks on possible visit to NK still under way

By Jun Ji-hye

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday that discussions with North Korean officials are still under way to determine when his first visit to the repressive state will take place.

“It’s still under discussion with the authorities of North Korea,” Ban said in a year-end news conference. “I sincerely hope that we will be able to find a mutually convenient date as soon as possible. And this is all I can tell you at this time.”

The remark came after Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the U.N. chief, first confirmed on Nov. 18 that the talks with Pyongyang on Ban’s visit are ongoing.

If Ban’s visit is realized, he is highly likely to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. During the meeting, Ban is expected to talk about a variety of pending issues including the North's nuclear ambitions and human rights violations.

Should the trip happen, Ban will be the third U.N. secretary-general to visit North Korea after Kurt Waldheim in 1979 and Boutros Boutros-Ghali in 1993, but his envisioned visit is drawing keen attention in particular as he is a South Korean.

The former South Korean foreign minister said he is ready to use his role as secretary-general in any way possible to secure peace, stability and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.

He also said there is no need for frustration despite last week’s high-level talks failing to produce progress.

“I sincerely hope that the parties will continue to engage in talks so that they can, first of all, expand the political space through dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, so that they can, first of all, build reconciliation between the two nations,” Ban said. “I’m ready to provide any service I can as the secretary-general and as a citizen of Korea.”

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