South Korea looks forward to Pope's visit to North Korea
The leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party (DP) has expressed hope that Pope Francis' possible visit to North Korea will help advance the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula.
On October 18, when South Korean President Moon Jae-in verbally conveyed an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Pope enthusiastically accepted the invitation to visit North Korea.
Pope Francis said if North Korea sent an official invitation, he would "of course" respond.
"The Pope's possible visit to North Korea demonstrates the international community's support for peace on the Korean Peninsula," said DP leader Hong Young-pyo during a meeting with key party leaders.
"If confirmed, the papal visit will create momentum for North Korea to continue denuclearization," "we need a flexible approach to raise the issue of denuclearization (of Pyongyang)."
The office of President Moon Jae-in said that at the third summit between the two leaders in Pyongyang last month, the North Korean leader expressed his wish to invite the Pope to visit his country.
No Pope has ever visited Korea before.
Presidential Chief of Staff Moon Jae-in hopes the Pope's visit will help speed up the process of bringing peace to the divided peninsula (the last remaining legacy of the Cold War).
For North Korea, the Pope's visit could help its efforts to become a normal country and improve relations with the US./.
