Former first lady to visit N. Korea, raising hopes of better inter-Korean ties
- 9 years ago
South Korea's former first lady Lee Hee-ho will make a four-day humanitarian trip to North Korea from Wednesday.
The visit has raised hopes of an improvement in long stagnant inter-Korean ties.
Kim Hyun-bin reports.
The widow of former President Kim Dae-jung will travel with a 19-member delegation, and she will be in the North from Wednesday to Saturday.
North Korea sent a formal invitation confirming the trip on Monday.
The Kim Dae-jung Peace Center says Lee Hee-ho is scheduled to visit several sites including children's hospitals, orphanages and Myohyangsan, a historic Korean mountain.
Now, all eyes are on whether the visit will bring about a breakthrough in inter-Korean ties.
Still, it is uncertain at this point whether she will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during her stay
and Seoul's unification ministry says the government will not ask the former first lady to deliver any messages on its behalf.
It also confirmed that no government officials will be part of her delegation.
This is Lee's first visit to the North in over three and a half years, when she offered her condolences to Kim Jong-un for the death of his father Kim Jong-il.
Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News.
The visit has raised hopes of an improvement in long stagnant inter-Korean ties.
Kim Hyun-bin reports.
The widow of former President Kim Dae-jung will travel with a 19-member delegation, and she will be in the North from Wednesday to Saturday.
North Korea sent a formal invitation confirming the trip on Monday.
The Kim Dae-jung Peace Center says Lee Hee-ho is scheduled to visit several sites including children's hospitals, orphanages and Myohyangsan, a historic Korean mountain.
Now, all eyes are on whether the visit will bring about a breakthrough in inter-Korean ties.
Still, it is uncertain at this point whether she will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during her stay
and Seoul's unification ministry says the government will not ask the former first lady to deliver any messages on its behalf.
It also confirmed that no government officials will be part of her delegation.
This is Lee's first visit to the North in over three and a half years, when she offered her condolences to Kim Jong-un for the death of his father Kim Jong-il.
Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News.