NK leader unlikely to visit Seoul before July

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is unlikely to visit Seoul within the first half of the year, a North Korean official said Monday. Ma Young-Il, a member of the North Korean Supreme People`s Assembly, now attending the Inter-Parliamentary Union session in Havana, Cuba, said, ``(Kim) will definitely make a visit (to Seoul) this year, but it may be difficult within the first half.``

He was answering a question from a South Korean reporter as whether there was a possibility that Kim would come to Seoul by train from Pyongyang after the construction work to restore the Kyungui Line (Seoul-Shinuiju in North Korea) is finished toward the middle of October. He said, ``I cannot confirm the schedule because it is a matter to be decided by the officials involved, but I think that (a visit to Seoul by train) would be natural.``

Lim Chae-Chung cclim@donga.com