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Former First Lady of South Korea Visits Pyongyang in Good-will Trip Former First Lady of South Korea Visits Pyongyang in Good-will Trip
(about 17 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — The 92-year-old widow of Kim Dae-jung, the late South Korean president who championed political reconciliation with North Korea, arrived in Pyongyang, the North’s capital, on Wednesday amid cautious hopes that her trip might help thaw relations between the two countries. SEOUL, South Korea — The 92-year-old widow of Kim Dae-jung, the South Korean president who championed political reconciliation with North Korea, arrived in Pyongyang, the North’s capital, on Wednesday amid cautious hopes that her trip might help thaw relations between the two countries.
Lee Hee-ho, the former first lady, was not carrying any official proposal on behalf of the South Korean government, and her delegation did not include a current government official from Seoul. The publicized itinerary of her four-day trip included visits to a children’s hospital, orphanage and maternity clinic but no formal meetings with senior North Korean officials.Lee Hee-ho, the former first lady, was not carrying any official proposal on behalf of the South Korean government, and her delegation did not include a current government official from Seoul. The publicized itinerary of her four-day trip included visits to a children’s hospital, orphanage and maternity clinic but no formal meetings with senior North Korean officials.
But given her status, analysts monitoring her trip wondered whether the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, would meet her and even send a message to the South through her. Initially, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported only her arrival in Pyongyang. But given her status, analysts monitoring her trip wondered whether the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, would meet her or even send a message to the South through her. Initially, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported only her arrival in Pyongyang.
Ms. Lee’s delegation took a chartered plane that made a rare trip across the border of the two Koreas, along the Korean Peninsula’s western coast.Ms. Lee’s delegation took a chartered plane that made a rare trip across the border of the two Koreas, along the Korean Peninsula’s western coast.
During his presidency, Kim Dae-jung, a respected figure among liberal South Koreans who generally supported engagement with the North, flew to Pyongyang in 2000 and hugged the current leader’s father, Kim Jong-il, in the first inter-Korean summit meeting. He was awarded that year’s Nobel Peace Prize for bringing a rapprochement to the divided peninsula.During his presidency, Kim Dae-jung, a respected figure among liberal South Koreans who generally supported engagement with the North, flew to Pyongyang in 2000 and hugged the current leader’s father, Kim Jong-il, in the first inter-Korean summit meeting. He was awarded that year’s Nobel Peace Prize for bringing a rapprochement to the divided peninsula.
His “Sunshine Policy,” which included generous aid shipments for the North and a flurry of inter-Korean projects, like tearful reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, continued through the administration of his liberal successor, the late President Roh Moo-hyun. Mr. Roh met Kim Jong-il for a second inter-Korean summit meeting in 2007. His “Sunshine Policy,” which included generous aid shipments for the North and a flurry of inter-Korean projects, like tearful reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, continued through the administration of his liberal successor, Roh Moo-hyun. Mr. Roh met Kim Jong-il for a second summit meeting in 2007.
The policy crumbled when South Koreans voted for conservative leadership that began with the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak in 2008 and has continued under the incumbent president, Park Geun-hye. Both Mr. Lee and Ms. Park criticized the Sunshine Policy as coddling the North and allowing its nuclear weapons program to proceed. The policy crumbled when South Koreans voted for conservative leadership that began with the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak in 2008 and has continued under the incumbent president, Park Geun-hye. Both Mr. Lee and Ms. Park criticized the “Sunshine Policy” as coddling the North and allowing its nuclear weapons program to proceed.
North Korea retreated into belligerent isolation, cutting off humanitarian exchanges with the South and conducting nuclear and long-range missile tests, as well as shelling a South Korean island in 2010. Efforts to improve relations since then have made little progress, as the mutual mistrust has remained deep.North Korea retreated into belligerent isolation, cutting off humanitarian exchanges with the South and conducting nuclear and long-range missile tests, as well as shelling a South Korean island in 2010. Efforts to improve relations since then have made little progress, as the mutual mistrust has remained deep.
Ms. Lee “hopes that her visit opens the way for more dialogues, exchanges and cooperation,” Kim Sung-jae, a former South Korean culture minister who is part of her delegation, told reporters in Seoul before boarding the flight to Pyongyang on Wednesday.Ms. Lee “hopes that her visit opens the way for more dialogues, exchanges and cooperation,” Kim Sung-jae, a former South Korean culture minister who is part of her delegation, told reporters in Seoul before boarding the flight to Pyongyang on Wednesday.