UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was in discussions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea over the timing of his visit.

Ban-a former foreign affairs minister of the Republic of Korea-said he received "positive signs" from Pyongyang recently following his talks with the DPRK's foreign minister, in comments made to ROK reporters at the United Nations.

"We are discussing when would be the good time for me to visit the DPRK, but so far nothing has been decided," he said, adding he is working to make the trip "at the earliest time."