N. Korean leader unlikely to visit Seoul this year

TOKYO, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- South Korea said Wednesday it would be difficult for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit Seoul this year, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the presidential office.
"We judge that it would be difficult for Chairman Kim to visit Seoul this year," a presidential official was quoted as saying in Seoul. "We are open to the possibility (of his visit) early next year as well, but we don't know what will happen," the official added.
There was speculation that the North's leader might make his first trip to Seoul before the end of this year, with the presidential office saying that it plans to prepare for a potential visit.
In the Pyongyang inter-Korean summit agreement in September, Kim agreed to visit Seoul "at an early date," which South Korean President Moon Jae-in said means by the end of this year.
North Korea is known to be cautious about clarifying the timing of Kim's visit, due to concerns over security and amid its stalled denuclearization talks with the US. US President Donald Trump earlier said that he expects a second summit with Kim early next year, but denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang have made little progress.
North Korea demands rewards such as sanctions relief in line with its steps on denuclearization. But the US said it will keep sanctions intact until Pyongyang takes concrete denuclearization measures. (end) mk.tg