UN chief says he hopes to visit Pyongyang "at earliest possible date"

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday voiced his hope of visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "at the earliest possible date," but the relevant effort "takes time."

The secretary-general made the statement in response to press questions following his signing of a condolence book at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations to pay tribute to former South Korean President Kim Young-sam, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 88.

Asked when his visit to the DPRK would take place, Ban said, "That is something I cannot respond at the moment, but I will say that we will make the effort to do so at the earliest possible date."

"I am sure there are many things you are curious about the issue, but I must say that it takes time to advance work, and since there are many sensitive issue at play, so I require that you follow the situation with patience," he said. Enditem