Pope Leo can play important role in improving US-North Korea ties, says Cardinal Lazzaro You

"Since the pope is American, I believe he could play an important role in improving US-North Korea relations and in advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula. I think he has the potential to make a big impact on inter-Korean affairs," You told a news conference at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea in Seoul.

You said he hoped that South Korean President Lee Jae Myung would visit the Vatican this year to meet the pope.

According to You, Leo's predecessor, the late Pope Francis, wished to visit Pyongyang and meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but North Korea never responded to the Vatican's efforts.

US President Donald Trump, during his first term, met with Kim three times.

They held two summits and met three times in Singapore, Vietnam, and at the Demilitarized Zone, which divides the Korean Peninsula.

Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to cancel his first visit to South Korea since taking office.

The South Korean presidential office said on Thursday that Rubio's visit to Seoul is unlikely to take place in the near future due to various circumstances on the US side, according to Yonhap News.

Earlier, reports had emerged that Rubio would visit Seoul in the second week of July.

There was no official communication from Washington with regard to Rubio's supposed trip to Seoul.