Pope Says He Will Visit North Korea If Kim Jong-un Invites Him: 'I Will Not Refuse'

Pope Francis has asked Kim Jong-un to invite him to visit North Korea in a televised interview with South Korea's state broadcaster KBS.

What Happened: The Pope on Friday said that he would not turn down a chance to visit and work for peace upon receiving an invitation from Kim.

"I will go there as soon as they invite me. I'm saying they should invite me. I will not refuse," he said.

See Also: Kim Jong-Un Orders Lockdown As North Korea Sees Suspected COVID-19 Cases Week After Declaring 'Shining Victory'

If the pope visited Kim's hermit kingdom, it would be the first trip by a pope to the isolated state, which does not allow priests to be permanently stationed within its borders.

Earlier, Moon Jae-in, the former South Korean President, urged Francis to visit North Korea, saying a papal visit to Pyongyang would help build peace on the Korean Peninsula.

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Photo: Courtesy of Catholic Church England on flickr