North Korean envoys sent to mourn former South Korean leader Kim Dae-Jung called Saturday for an immediate improvement in inter-Korean ties and talks with the country's president, media pool reports said. "The North Koreans said they were carrying a message from (North Korea's leader) Chairman Kim Jong-Il," an unidentified government official was quoted as telling Yonhap news agenc
y. Their wish to meet with President Lee Myung-Bak was conveyed to South Korea's Unification Minister Hyun In-Taek on Saturday. Hyun was talking to the president's office about the offer, the official said. "While meeting many South Koreans here, I came to believe that inter-Korean ties must be improved at the earliest possible date," Kim Yang-Gon, a North Korean official in charge of inter-Korean ties, told Hyun. "We've had little opportunity to talk... I hope that these first high-level official talks under the (South Korean conservative President) Lee Myung-Bak administration will provide a chance to have frank talks," he said. Kim is one of a six-member North Korean delegation making a rare visit south of the border to pay tribute to former leader Kim Dae-Jung, who died Tuesday at the age of 85. A winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Kim held the first inter-Korean summit in 2000, during his 1998-2003 presidency. After the 90-minute talks, Hyun said the North Koreans might postpone their departure for home, sparking speculation that they will meet Lee. The rare encounter raised hopes for a breakthrough amid tension on the Korean peninsula which rose after the North's second nuclear test three months ago.
y. Their wish to meet with President Lee Myung-Bak was conveyed to South Korea's Unification Minister Hyun In-Taek on Saturday. Hyun was talking to the president's office about the offer, the official said. "While meeting many South Koreans here, I came to believe that inter-Korean ties must be improved at the earliest possible date," Kim Yang-Gon, a North Korean official in charge of inter-Korean ties, told Hyun. "We've had little opportunity to talk... I hope that these first high-level official talks under the (South Korean conservative President) Lee Myung-Bak administration will provide a chance to have frank talks," he said. Kim is one of a six-member North Korean delegation making a rare visit south of the border to pay tribute to former leader Kim Dae-Jung, who died Tuesday at the age of 85. A winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Kim held the first inter-Korean summit in 2000, during his 1998-2003 presidency. After the 90-minute talks, Hyun said the North Koreans might postpone their departure for home, sparking speculation that they will meet Lee. The rare encounter raised hopes for a breakthrough amid tension on the Korean peninsula which rose after the North's second nuclear test three months ago.For further details visit as : http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gAN4qXRbX9S4qZ_tdI45E_5oxLMg
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