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| S Korean head meets North envoys | S Korean head meets North envoys |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak has met senior North Korean officials, just before the funeral of the late ex-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. | South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak has met senior North Korean officials, just before the funeral of the late ex-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. |
| The six envoys brought a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, and said they hoped to solve bilateral problems through talks. | The six envoys brought a message from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, and said they hoped to solve bilateral problems through talks. |
| The meeting is being seen as a significant thaw, as President Lee is denounced as a traitor by the North. | The meeting is being seen as a significant thaw, as President Lee is denounced as a traitor by the North. |
| The half-hour meeting took place shortly before Kim Dae-jung's funeral. | The half-hour meeting took place shortly before Kim Dae-jung's funeral. |
| "Everything went well," Pyongyang's chief envoy Kim Ki-nam said after the meeting, although he refused to give any details. | "Everything went well," Pyongyang's chief envoy Kim Ki-nam said after the meeting, although he refused to give any details. |
| The former South Korean leader won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts to promote reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. | The former South Korean leader won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts to promote reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. |
| 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 South Korea's democracy champion Will Pyongyang change? | 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 South Korea's democracy champion Will Pyongyang change? |
| His state funeral, due to start at 0500GMT, will be held at the parliament building in Seoul, and 24,000 people have been invited. | His state funeral, due to start at 0500GMT, will be held at the parliament building in Seoul, and 24,000 people have been invited. |
| 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. |
| 'Ties must be improved' | 'Ties must be improved' |
| Thousands are expected to attend Mr Kim's funeral | Thousands are expected to attend Mr Kim's funeral |
| 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 is lying in state. | 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 is lying in state. |
| The former president pioneered the South's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea, and spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification with the North. | The former president pioneered the South's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with North Korea, and spent his life pursuing democracy and reunification with the North. |
| He survived several attempts on his life and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. | He survived several attempts on his life and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000. |
| The North Korean delegation was also reported to be carrying a message from leader Kim Jong-il to Mr Lee. | The North Korean delegation was also reported to be carrying a message from leader Kim Jong-il to Mr Lee. |
| Hyun In-taek met visiting North Korean spy chief Kim Yang-gon in Seoul | Hyun 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. | "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. |
| "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. | "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 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. | 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. |
| 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 the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul. |
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