By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

Kim Yang-gon, head of North Korea's Unification Front Department and long-time architect of inter-Korean relations, returned home Tuesday from a six-day visit to China, according to reports Wednesday.

His secret trip to North Korea's traditional ally is amplifying rumors that South and North Korea may negotiate a clandestine inter-Korean summit.

``I met Kim and Won Dong-yon, the director of the Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, by accident at the Beijing Airport and said hello to them,'' independent lawmaker Chung Dong-young said.
``Kim told me that he wants to meet me later either in Pyongyang or Seoul.''

Chung, a former minister of unification, was in Beijing for a National Assembly inspection of the South Korean Embassy.

Kim's detailed itinerary has yet to be confirmed but North Korea watchers said that the secretive state's point man may have discussed ways to improve relations with South Korea and Japan during his China tour.

Rep. Park Ji-won of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said that the two North Korean officials might have been playing an important role by contacting South Korean and U.S. officials.

``Kim is spearheading South Korea policies and Won is the oldest official dealing with inter-Korean affairs,'' said Park who was an envoy to North Korea ahead of the first inter-Korean summit between the late former President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000.

Despite the chilled inter-Korean relations, Kim flew to Seoul in August with Kim Ki-nam, a secretary of the Workers' Party Central Committee, to pay respects to the late Kim Dae-jung.

During their Seoul visit, the North Koreans met with President Lee Myung-bak and Unification Minister Hyun In-taek.

Kim Yang-gon was also reported to have met with Rep. Lee Sang-deuk of the governing Grand National Party, who is the elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak, which started the rumors on the possible inter-Korean summit.

Cheong Wa Dae and the lawmaker immediately denied the report, though.

``I was staying in India between Aug. 14 and 15,'' Lee Sang-deuk said. ``How could I meet with someone whom I don't even know?''

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr