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S Korean head meets North envoys S Korea funeral heralds ties thaw
(about 2 hours later)
South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak has met senior North Korean officials for the first time, ahead of the funeral of the late ex-President Kim Dae-jung. A state funeral attended by some 20,000 people has been held in South Korea for former President Kim Dae-jung.
The six envoys brought a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, saying they hoped to ease bilateral problems. Mr Kim won the Nobel prize in 2000 for his work to foster better relations with North Korea and his death seems to be having a similarly positive effect.
The meeting is being seen as a significant thaw, as President Lee is denounced as a traitor by the North. Before the funeral, South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak met senior North Korean envoys who came to pay condolences.
A spokesman for Mr Lee refused to release the wording of the message, citing the sensitivity of the matter. The meeting is being seen as a significant thaw, as Mr Lee has been denounced as a traitor by the North.
But he said it explained Mr Kim's thoughts on "progress on inter-Korean cooperation". The delegation from Pyongyang brought a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, saying they hoped to ease bilateral problems.
While meeting many South Koreans here, I came to believe that inter-Korean ties must be improved at the earliest possible date Kim Yang-gonNorth Korean official class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8183155.stm">Will Pyongyang change? More than 20,000 people attended the multi-faith ceremony at the parliament building in Seoul, said Yonhap news agency.
He said Mr Lee, in response, detailed his government's "consistent and firm" policy on North Korea, which has been to push for progress on nuclear disarmament. It was only the second state funeral to be held in the history of South Korea.
"Everything went well," Pyongyang's chief envoy Kim Ki-nam said after the meeting, although he too refused to give any details. While meeting many South Koreans here, I came to believe that inter-Korean ties must be improved at the earliest possible date Kim Yang-gonNorth Korean official class="" href="/2/hi/asia-pacific/8183155.stm">Will Pyongyang change? class="" href="/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8212768.stm">South Korea's democracy champion class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8206943.stm">In pictures: Life of Kim Dae-jung
Talks between Unification Minister Hyun In-taek and the North Korean envoys on Saturday were the first high-level meeting between the two sides since conservative President Lee took office in February 2008, promising to take a tougher line with Pyongyang.
Relations chilled as he cut aid to the North, tying its resumption to progress on nuclear disarmament.
State funeral
The half-hour meeting took place shortly before Kim Dae-jung's funeral.
South Korea's democracy champion In pictures: Life of Kim Dae-jung
The former president pioneered the South's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with the North, and spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts to promote reconciliation on the Korean peninsula.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that 20,000 people attended the ceremony at the parliament building in Seoul, only the second state funeral to be held in the country.
In his eulogy, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said Mr Kim, who died on 18 August after a bout of pneumonia, had been "a great leader of modern history".In his eulogy, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said Mr Kim, who died on 18 August after a bout of pneumonia, had been "a great leader of modern history".
"Your sacrifices, dedication and devotion allowed freedom, human rights and democracy to fully blossom in Korea, making our country today a proud and respected nation in the world," he said."Your sacrifices, dedication and devotion allowed freedom, human rights and democracy to fully blossom in Korea, making our country today a proud and respected nation in the world," he said.
Mr Han said the democratisation of South Korea had been made possible by Mr Kim's "unwavering convictions and ... unyielding courage".Mr Han said the democratisation of South Korea had been made possible by Mr Kim's "unwavering convictions and ... unyielding courage".
'Ties must be improved' The former president pioneered the South's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with the North and he spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification.
The six officials from North Korea were sent to pay respects for Kim Dae-jung. On Friday they laid a wreath at the National Assembly in Seoul, where Mr Kim's body was lying in state. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts to promote reconciliation on the Korean peninsula.
'Progress'
The half-hour meeting took place at the presidential Blue House in Seoul
A spokesman for Mr Lee refused to release the wording of the message that had come from his reclusive North Korean counterpart, citing the sensitivity of the matter.
But he said it explained Mr Kim's thoughts on "progress on inter-Korean cooperation".
He said Mr Lee had shared with the six visiting envoys his government's "consistent and firm" policy on North Korea, which has been to push for progress on nuclear disarmament.
After the meeting, Pyongyang's chief envoy, Kim Ki-nam said that "everything went well," although he too refused to give any details.
Talks between Unification Minister Hyun In-taek and the North Korean envoys on Saturday were the first high-level meeting between the two sides since conservative President Lee took office in February 2008, promising to take a tougher line with Pyongyang.
Hyun In-taek met visiting North Korean spy chief Kim Yang-gon in SeoulHyun In-taek met visiting North Korean spy chief Kim Yang-gon in Seoul
"While meeting many South Koreans here, I came to believe that inter-Korean ties must be improved at the earliest possible date," said Kim Yang-gon, the North's official in charge of inter-Korean relations. Relations chilled as he cut aid to the North, tying its resumption to progress on nuclear disarmament.
"We've had little opportunity to talk... I hope that these first high-level official talks under the Lee Myung-bak administration will provide a chance to have frank talks," he told his Southern counterpart Mr Hyun. The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says Kim Dae-jung worked hard in his life to improve relations with the North and it appears that his death and funeral have provided an opportunity for his successors to do the same.
The words mark a turn around for the North, which earlier this year conducted an underground nuclear test and fired a long-range missile over Japan. Earlier this year North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test and fired a long-range missile over Japan.
But more recently, there has been a series of conciliatory gestures. Two US reporters and a South Korean worker were released from detention and last week Pyongyang said it was interested in resuming cross-border tourism and industrial projects.But more recently, there has been a series of conciliatory gestures. Two US reporters and a South Korean worker were released from detention and last week Pyongyang said it was interested in resuming cross-border tourism and industrial projects.
Some observers believe that, with UN sanctions beginning to bite, the North is keen to boost cross-border tourism and trade that bring in badly needed foreign currency, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul. Some observers believe that, with UN sanctions beginning to bite, the North is keen to boost cross-border tourism and trade that bring in badly needed foreign currency, says our correspondent.
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