By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
A North Korean delegation paid their respects to the late former President Kim Dae-jung during a visit to an altar at the National Assembly Friday, an act expected to offer the opportunity to thaw inter-Korean relations.
The six delegates, led by Kim Ki-nam, secretary of the Workers Party Central Committee, offered a wreath of flowers and a letter of condolence on behalf of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
In the guest book, the secretary wrote, "We pay deepest respect to the late President Kim Dae-jung who made an indelible mark before the nation with justice and conscience."
They are the first North Korean officials to visit South Korea since the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak in February last year.
In a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o following the wreath-laying ceremony, Kim Ki-nam said that he is willing to meet South Korean officials for talks on matters of mutual concern during his two-day stay.
He said, "We (the two Koreas) have many things to do to meet the late Kim's wishes for the inter-Korean unity and improving of inter-Korean relations."
Speaker Kim called for the early release of four South Korean fishermen detained in the North.
The North Koreans later visited the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center and conveyed the North Korean leader's condolences to Lee Hee-ho, widow of the late Kim.
Upon arrival at Gimpo International Airport, they were greeted by Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-ho and former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun, who is currently vice chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center.
Their detailed itinerary, except for a call of condolence, remained sealed for safety reasons. Political sources did not rule out the possibility of a meeting between the North Korean delegates and ranking South Korean officials.
"There is enough time to have a direct or indirect meeting between the delegates and South Korean officials," said professor Yang Moo-jin at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul told The Korea Times. "The problem is how and whether the government will use this opportunity."
But some observers were skeptical about the possibility of a meeting since the delegation's trip appeared not to be arranged in advance.
Yang said, "North Korea dispatched a high-level delegation and had delegates spend one night here. In addition, it is lifting border-crossing restrictions. It is signaling its willingness to have a government-to-government dialogue."
Kim Ki-nam is frequently seen at public events with North Korean leader Kim. Other delegates include Kim Yang-gon, director of the United Front Department dealing with inter-Korean affairs.
North Korea announced Thursday that it would lift the border-crossing restrictions imposed on Dec. 1 last year in retaliation for the Lee Myung-bak administration's tougher stance toward its regime.
The reclusive state also said it would normalize operations on the Gyeongui railway and re-open an economic cooperation office in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong.
The secretive state also opened a telephone line at the Panmunjeom liaison office the same day, following a series of reconciliatory gestures including normalization of overland passages and inter-Korean railroads.
North Korean leader Kim also allegedly told the military authorities to release four South Korean fishermen detained in North Korea in an apparent attempt to improve inter-Korean relations.
"As far as Kim said of the instruction during a meeting with Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun on Aug. 10, the detainees are highly likely to be freed soon," a government official was quoted as saying.