By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
Plans gathered steam Tuesday for the wife of late former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung to visit North Korea next month, although no date was confirmed after talks between her aides and representatives from Pyongyang.
Lee Hee-ho, 93, was first lady during the famous inter-Korean breakthrough when her husband met late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000 -- despite the countries never reaching a peace treaty at the end of the Korean War in 1953.
The so-called ‘Sunshine Policy’ of cooperation instigated in the late 1990s is a major Kim Dae-jung legacy, although its impact remains divisive along political lines.
Supporters of this summer’s planned visit by Kim’s widow would argue that she will be able to serve as an intermediary at a time when Seoul-Pyongyang ties are frayed.
Both sides have been exchanging threats in recent days as Monday marked the 13th anniversary of a bloody sea battle near their de facto maritime border.
Officials from the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center received permission from Seoul to travel to the North Korean city of Kaesong on Tuesday to plan Lee’s trip. It is illegal for South Korean citizens to visit the North without clearance.
Upon returning to the South, a member of the delegation explained to reporters that “the two sides have decided to meet again and discuss specifics.”
Kim Sung-jae, who previously served as culture minister, added that they had passed on Lee’s wish to set a date in July.
The former first lady said at the start of the week that she hoped such a mission “could pave the way for alleviating the tension in Seoul-Pyongyang relations.”
While Lee’s plan is likely to be approved on the South Korean side, North Korea pointed to poor bilateral ties when rejecting an approach by the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center in April.
But she did receive a letter from the North’s current leader last year expressing his hope to welcome her to the reclusive state in 2015, after Lee had sent flowers in honor of the third anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s death.
