UN chief will try to visit North Korea as soon as possible

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he will try to visit North Korea “at the earliest possible date” in an effort to promote peace on the Korean peninsula.

Ban said the political situation and relations between South Korea and North Korea “had not been conducive” for a visit.

But he said North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong recently visited U.N. headquarters twice, and that they discussed the role of the secretary-general in promoting peace and reconciliation and in reducing tensions.

Since then, Ban said, “there has been a bit of a positive signal” from North Korea “and we are at the moment coordinating when would be the best time to visit.”

The U.N. on Tuesday released the transcript of Ban’s remarks late Monday at South Korea’s U.N. Mission.

source: AP