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| Kim buried as Koreas enjoy thaw | Kim buried as Koreas enjoy thaw |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| A state funeral attended by some 20,000 people has been held in South Korea for former 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Before the funeral, South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak met senior North Korean envoys who came to pay condolences. | Before the funeral, South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak met senior North Korean envoys who came to pay condolences. |
| The meeting is being seen as a significant thaw, as Mr Lee has been denounced as a traitor by the North. | The meeting is being seen as a significant thaw, as Mr Lee has been denounced as a traitor by the North. |
| The delegation from Pyongyang brought a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, saying they hoped to ease bilateral problems. | 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 Will Pyongyang change? South Korea's democracy champion In pictures: Life of Kim Dae-jung | 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 Will Pyongyang change? South Korea's democracy champion In pictures: Life of Kim Dae-jung |
| More than 20,000 people attended the multi-faith ceremony outside the parliament building in Seoul, said Yonhap news agency. | More than 20,000 people attended the multi-faith ceremony outside the parliament building in Seoul, said Yonhap news agency. |
| Most were dressed in black and wearing white paper visors to shelter from the baking heat. | Most were dressed in black and wearing white paper visors to shelter from the baking heat. |
| 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". |
| ANALYSIS John Sudworth, BBC News, Seoul | ANALYSIS John Sudworth, BBC News, Seoul |
| The former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung was a man who, in office, attempted to build closer ties with the North. | The former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung was a man who, in office, attempted to build closer ties with the North. |
| In death, on the occasion of his state funeral, the Nobel Peace Prize winner is, it seems, providing an opportunity for the current president to do the same. | In death, on the occasion of his state funeral, the Nobel Peace Prize winner is, it seems, providing an opportunity for the current president to do the same. |
| The message delivered by the North Korean delegation to President Lee Myung-bak on behalf of their leader is reported to concern "progress in inter-Korean relations". | The message delivered by the North Korean delegation to President Lee Myung-bak on behalf of their leader is reported to concern "progress in inter-Korean relations". |
| In reply, Mr Lee is said to have explained his government's "consistent and firm principles", a reference to his insistence that the North must give up its nuclear ambitions. | In reply, Mr Lee is said to have explained his government's "consistent and firm principles", a reference to his insistence that the North must give up its nuclear ambitions. |
| Mr Kim's widow, Lee Hee-ho, led mourners in bowing in front of his portrait and before the coffin was driven through Seoul to the national cemetery. | Mr Kim's widow, Lee Hee-ho, led mourners in bowing in front of his portrait and before the coffin was driven through Seoul to the national cemetery. |
| It was only the second state funeral to be held in the history of South Korea. | It was only the second state funeral to be held in the history of South Korea. |
| Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was among the foreign dignitaries in attendance. | Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was among the foreign dignitaries in attendance. |
| Ms Albright said Mr Kim had been "an amazing leader" who set "a good example to people in Korea and also to the global community". | Ms Albright said Mr Kim had been "an amazing leader" who set "a good example to people in Korea and also to the global community". |
| The former president pioneered the South's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with the North and he spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification. | The former president pioneered the South's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with the North and he spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification. |
| He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts to promote reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. | He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts to promote reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. |
| 'Progress' | 'Progress' |
| A spokesman for Mr Lee declined to release the wording of the message that had come from his reclusive North Korean counterpart, citing the sensitivity of the matter. | A spokesman for Mr Lee declined to release the wording of the message that had come from his reclusive North Korean counterpart, citing the sensitivity of the matter. |
| The half-hour meeting took place at the presidential Blue House in Seoul | The half-hour meeting took place at the presidential Blue House in Seoul |
| But he said it explained Mr Kim's thoughts on "progress on inter-Korean cooperation". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Relations chilled as he cut aid to the North, tying its resumption to progress on nuclear disarmament. |
| Earlier this year North Korea 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 our correspondent. | 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. |