Waterford Minister of State John Halligan wants to lead a peace mission to North Korea.

According to the Irish Daily Mail, the Junior Minister has written to the North Korean embassy in London seeking permision for a parliamentary visit by himself, and his Independent Alliance colleagues Transport Minister Shane Ross and Junior Disability Minister Finian McGrath.

Mr Halligan and Mr McGrath told the paper they wish to hold talks with Kim Jong-Un to discuss nuclear disarmament.

Mr Halligan has said it’s not good enough that the only dialogue towards Korea from the west has been Donald Trump threatening to blow them up.

He said a large delegation of North Koreans had come to Waterford 20 years ago to see the workings of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and they were ‘very easy to talk to’.

However, Mr Halligan acknowledged they had not discussed the visit with the Taoiseach, and while they may not be able to go as members of the Government, he said they could go as parliamentarians.