North Korea cancels Ban Ki Moon's visit

(Baonghean.vn) - On Wednesday, May 20, North Korea ordered a last-minute cancellation of the first visit to North Korea by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon in more than 20 years. Responding to the decision, Mr. Ban Ki Moon said he "deeply regrets" Pyongyang's decision.

On the morning of May 20, in a meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said that the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea announced the withdrawal of the decision to allow Mr. Ban Ki Moon to visit the industrial complex in Kaesong.

Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon on May 19 in Seoul. Photo: AFP

According to Mr. Ban Ki Moon, “No explanation was given for the last-minute change” of North Korea and felt “deeply regretful” about Pyongyang’s decision. In addition, Mr. Ban Ki Moon also stated, “However, in my capacity as Secretary-General of the United Nations, I will spare no effort to encourage the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to work with the international community for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to achieve further goals.”

Previously, the UN Secretary General announced that he would visit the inter-Korean commercial zone in Kaesong, located between the two countries' borders, on Thursday, May 21. If as planned, Mr. Ban Ki Moon will be considered the first UN Secretary General to set foot in North Korea since the visit of former Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in 1993.

As for the Kaesong Industrial Complex, there are currently about 50,000 North Koreans working in 125 South Korean factories. This is also an important industrial complex that provides foreign currency for North Korea and is also a frequent subject of dispute with South Korea.

Chu Thanh

According to Le Monde May 20