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The six members of North Korea’s mourning delegation sent to express condolences for the passing of late president Kim Dae-jung arrived in Seoul on Friday, and paid their respects at the National Assembly, where Kim’s body lays in state. The delegation’s visit, which includes Kim Ki-nam, a secretary with the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) Central Committee, and Kim Yang-kon, the director of the United Front Department of the Workers’ Party, is the first by North Korean officials since the inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak administration in February, 2008.

The mourning delegation had taken a special Air Koryo flight that took the direct West Sea route from North Korea to Seoul, and immediately upon arriving at Gimpo Airport at around 3:00 p.m. went straight to the National Assembly, where Kim’s body has been placed. Democratic Party Lawmaker Park Jie-won, Vice Justice Minister Hwang Hee-chul and Park Gye-dong, the secretary general of the National Assembly Secretariat, escorted the delegation as they placed a wreath of flowers and shared a moment of silence at the altar.

Afterwards, the delegation expressed their condolences over Kim Dae-jung’s death and shook hands with bereaved family members, beginning with Kim’s sons Hong-up and Hong-gul and ruling party and opposition lawmakers who were present. They then moved into the office of National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o, where they enjoyed a congenial visit. Later, the delegation went to the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center in Mapo-gu’s Donggyo-dong neighborhood, where they met with former First Lady Lee Hee-ho and conveyed a message of condolence from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Prior to this, the delegation had been welcomed at the airport by Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-ho and Kim Dae-jung Peace Center Vice Director Jeong Se-hyun. As they brought the delegation to Seoul, Hong and Jeong reportedly explored with the North Korean mourning delegation members the possibility of talks with high-ranking South Korean officials.

The delegation attended a luncheon with officials from the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center, including former Unification Minister Lim Dong-won. Following an overnight stay at a hotel in downtown Seoul, they are scheduled to return to North Korea at 2:00 p.m. Saturday.

After reporting on the delegation’s departure from Pyongyang, North Korea’s KCNA referred to the mourning delegation a group of special envoys commissioned by Kim Jong-il. Accordingly, some analysts wonder if the delegation might be carrying a personal message from Kim himself.

Concerning the possibility that the delegation might hold talks with President Lee Myung-bak, a key Cheong Wa Dae official said the North Korean government has not asked for a meeting, nor is there a need for one. The official did leave open the possibility of a meeting, however, saying one might happen if the delegation has a personal message from Kim or something in particular to say.

The direct Seoul-Pyongyang phone line had opened at 11:05 a.m. Friday, in time for the mourning delegation’s visit. On Thursday, North Korea had asked South Korea to set up a direct line. It appears the request was made in preparation for the possibility of high-ranking inter-Korean governmental talks during the delegation’s visit to Seoul.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]