DPRK invites S.Korean former president to visit Pyongyang again

A ranking official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea invited South Korean former President Kim Dae-jung to visit Pyongyang again on Tuesday.

Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of the DPRK's Worker's Party, delivered the invitation on behalf of the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Il to Kim Dae-jung in Seoul earlier Tuesday, reported the South Korean Yonhap News Agency.

Kim Dae-jung accepted the invitation, saying he would visit there at an appropriate time, said Yonhap.

Kim Ki Nam and several other DPRK officials visited Kim Dae- jung who is in a Seoul hospital after being diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia.

The DPRK government and civilian delegations, led by Kim Ki Nam, came here on last Sunday to attend a series of celebration events together with South Korean delegates to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

Kim Dae-jung made the historic visit to Pyongyang in June 2000 and held summit meeting with Kim Jong Il. The former South Korean president was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his contribution to the inter-Korean reconciliation.

During a meeting between Kim Jong Il and South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on June 17, the DPRK top leader expressed intention to invite Kim Dae-jung to travel to Pyongyang again.

Chung was leading the South Korean delegation to the joint celebration of the 5th anniversary of the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang.

Source: Xinhua