SEOUL: United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon scheduled visit to North Korea has been cancelled as North Korean withdrew an invitation to UN chief visit to an industrial zone inside the state.
The UN chief has declared the North Korea’s abrupt move t “deeply regrettable”.
The decision comes after Ban this week urged North Korea to avoid any actions that might escalate military tensions, after it successfully test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
Ban said that via “diplomatic channels”, North Korea had rescinded its invitation to the Kaesong zone, which is a key earner for the cash-strapped state but a perennial source of tension with South Korea.
The UN chief said North Korea has not given any explanation for this last minute change.
Ban had planned to travel Thursday to the industrial estate, a joint enterprise between Pyongyang and Seoul which lies 10 kilometres (six miles) over the border inside North Korea.
