North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho says inspections by monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the North’s nuclear facilities are expected to take place soon.

Ri made the remark to reporters in New York on Monday.

On inter-Korean relations, Ri said that it is crucial for the two Koreas to implement the June 15th Joint Declaration and the October fourth Joint Declaration. He then said the South does not seem to be willing to implement the accords.

On reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had expressed interest in visiting the United Nations headquarters in New York, Ri said that he cannot confirm such reports.