Kim Jong-un may be set for 1st trip abroad

Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, may travel to Teheran next week, in his maiden overseas visit since taking over the country after his father's death in December, the Yonhap and Arirang news services reported on Aug 22.

Iran's spokesman for the Non-Aligned Movement Summit confirmed that Kim would attend the meeting scheduled for Aug 26-31, reported the Seoul-based Arirang.

Teheran and Pyongyang have maintained close ties, and the visit by the DPRK leader shows the two countries' willingness to strengthen their interactions, the spokesman told the Tabnak news website on Aug 21.

But later, Yonhap said that Seoul has yet to verify the news.

"Kim Jong-un's attendance has not been confirmed" and the diplomatic office in Iran is checking the report, it cited an official of the Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as saying.

If Iran has said "the top leader" of the DPRK will attend, it could mean Kim Yong-nam, the president of the DPRK Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the official said, referring to the title, rather than a name, listed as an attendee for the Iran summit.

Pyongyang seems to have not submitted the specific identification of who will attend the summit beyond the given title, another government source told the news agency, adding that "for now, Kim Jong-un's attendance does not seem very likely".

The Non-Aligned Movement Summit, an international organization with 120 member states and 21 observer countries, is considered as not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

Iran's spokesman said around 40 world leaders had expressed their willingness to attend the meeting but UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has not yet confirmed his attendance.

Late DPRK leader Kim Il-sung attended the summit in Indonesia in 1965.