Kim Jong-un unlikely to address UNGA: Official

Seoul, Sep 17 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is unlikely to send a video address to the annual UN General Assembly later this month, an official at the South Korean Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, adding that Pyongyang's top envoy to the world body will speak instead.

With world leaders set to join the gathering via video links due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, speculation has lingered that Kim could deliver a rare video address to the top-level general debate session slated to begin on September 22, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Kim Song, the North Korean Ambassador to the UN, is expected to partake as the 14th speaker on September 29, the last day of the general debate, the official said.

"According to the provisional list of speakers, North Korean Ambassador Kim Song is supposed to speak," the official told reporters.

"Rumours swirled last year as well that somebody else would make a surprise visit (to the Assembly), but Ambassador Kim Song delivered the speech as planned."

In 2015, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong attended the General Assembly, while his successor, Ri Yong-ho, joined the gathering from 2016 to 2018, said the Yonhap News Agency report.

Last year, Ambassador Kim Song attended it.