Seoul: N. Korean leader’s reciprocal visit next month is still possible

The South Korean government said Monday that it is still possible that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could visit Seoul before the end of this year as agreed back in September, despite the postponement of Kim’s visit to Russia and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s scheduled trip to North Korea.

“Whether Chairman Kim will visit Seoul next month will be decided soon,” an official at the presidential office said Monday. “We are making preparations for now based on a scenario in which Chairman Kim visits Seoul within this year.” In a meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in also said that “The reciprocal visit by Chairman Kim to Seoul and the second U.S.-North Korea summit will happen soon.”

The South Korean government has reportedly made constant efforts to make Kim’s visit happen before the year’s end through continued consultation, which means that the North has also left the door open for Kim’s December visit to Seoul. It is reported that the committee for the implementation of the inter-Korean joint declaration headed by presidential chief of staff Lim Jong-seok is leading preparatory works for Kim’s visit to the South.


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