Minister Hopes To Travel To North Korea For "Peace Talks"
Minister of State John Halligan wants to lead a peace mission to North Korea along with two Independent Alliance colleagues, Shane Ross and Finian McGrath.
The three Ministers are awaiting a reply from the North Korean embassy in London for permission for a parliamentary visit.
Mr. Halligan said the greatest threat to peace are the nuclear threats being issued by Kim Jong-un, and that he would hope to ask the North Korean leader to engage in democracy.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that he wouldn’t want anything “beastly” happening to any member of the government.
The Taoiseach added that he couldn't envisage the trip going ahead.
"We’re not going as members of the government, we’re going as three politicians" said Mr. Halligan.
“Any TD is at liberty to go to a country and visit, we’re not doing anything sensational, we’re not talking sides, we’re trying to initiate peace talks."
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it does not support any parliamentary delegation visiting North Korea.
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