조명균 "김정은 서울답방 일정, 북측과 논의 없어…모든 가능성"

There's been growing speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might visit Seoul within this month.
According to the South Korean government, nothing has been decided... and all options remain open.
Kim Min-ji gets us up to speed with the developments.
A visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Seoul by the end of this month is still very possible --b ut the South Korean government says there has been no discussions about it with North Korea.
Speaking Wednesday at a meeting of the National Assembly's special committee on inter-Korean affairs,... Seoul's unification minister Cho Myoung-gyon said there's a chance it could happen before the end of the year,... or it could be adjusted depending on the situation... adding that all options are still open.
Speculation about a visit has been growing... since President Moon Jae-in's summit with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Argentina last week.
After the talks, Moon said the two agreed that Kim coming to Seoul would play a positive role in the North Korea-U.S. nuclear dialogue.
A visit was also agreed to in the Pyeongyang Declaration reached between the two Koreas in September.
There have been several dates circulating,... but some have also expressed their doubts,... given the lack of time to prepare,... and a memorial service on December 17th marking the anniversary of the death of Kim's father... as well as the work that needs to be done on Kim's new year's address.
South Korea's intel agency also made similar remarks about the trip,... saying nothing has been decided.
In a separate closed-door meeting at parliament,... the National Intelligence Service explained that the matter is linked to the talks between Pyeongyang and Washington,... so it also depends on the progress there.
Also, contrary to a media report,... the agency said there was no meeting in Panmunjeom on Monday between the head of the CIA's Korea Mission Center, Andrew Kim, and the North's pointman on U.S. dialogue, Kim Yong-chol.
The NIS said there were no plans for the two to meet in the first place,... adding that they are closely communicating with the CIA... about which North Korean officials they are meeting and about Washington's stance.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.