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1994. Kim had promised to freeze his country’s nuclear weapons program.

By Park Hyun, Washington correspondent and Jeong Nam-ku, Tokyo correspondent

Former US president Jimmy Carter is pondering a visit to Pyongyang after being invited by the North Korean government, and he discussed the possible visit with high-ranking US government officials on July 22, Japanese Kyodo News agency reported the next day.

Kyodo quoted a US government official as saying that Carter had a conversation on July 22 with Secretary of State John Kerry, White House national security advisor Susan Rice and others about the possibility of visiting North Korea.

Kyodo added that North Korea had extended an invitation to Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, in addition to Carter.

“The South Korean government is not aware of anything related to this,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said on condition of anonymity.

By inviting Carter, North Korea appears to be searching for a way to return to talks with the US.

Currently, North Korea’s relationship with the US is at an impasse because of the UN sanctions imposed after North Korea launched a long-range rocket in Dec. 2012 and carried out its third nuclear weapons test in February.

North Korea made a proposal for high-level government talks with the US through an urgent statement released by its National Defense Commission on June 16, but the administration of US President Barack Obama did not accept the offer.

If he does indeed visit the North, it is expected that he will discuss humanitarian concerns, including the release of Korean-American Kenneth Bae, who is being detained in the North. He may also share his opinions on the issue of North Korean nuclear weapons. Carter would likely meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The leading view among diplomats in Washington is that even if Carter does visit the North, the US government would not ask him to be a special envoy for peace.

The Obama administration remains committed to its tough policy toward the North. It has said that it will not engage in talks until North Korea takes verifiable steps toward denuclearization.

Nevertheless, Carter appears committed to playing a role in improving relations between North Korea and the US, and he has the influence that comes from being a former president of the US. As such, his moves are being watched carefully.

It is also possible that if Carter has a chance to meet Kim Jong-un face to face, they could find a way to bring about a thaw in relations.

“I have visited North Korea three times, but I have never gone without being invited by North Korea and receiving the permission of the White House.” Carter said in an interview with American broadcaster CBS on Apr. 10. “If these conditions are met, I will be glad to go.”

In a speech made on April 22, Carter also said that he had sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry emphasizing the importance of dialogue with North Korea and that he had recommended that the US sign a peace treaty with North Korea.

When tensions were high on the Korean peninsula in 1994 because of North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons, Carter became the first former American president to visit the North. While there, he met with then-leader Kim Il-sung and made a significant contribution to alleviating the tensions.

When he returned from a visit to the North in August 2010, Carter brought back Aijalon Mahli Gomes, an American teacher who had been incarcerated by North Korea for entering the country illegally.

And in April of the following year, he visited North Korea along with former president of Finland Martti Ahtisaari.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]