President to Arrange Opposition Leader's Visit to North Korea

President Kim Dae-jung disclosed on August 17 that he is in the process of negotiating with the North Korean authorities for a visit by opposition leader Lee Hoi Chang to North Korea.

At a state luncheon held for a group of academics, Kim was asked whether he was willing to support a visit to North Korea by the opposition leader or any other politician. To which the President answered,"yes." Kim added that,"if visits to North Korea require the government's help, then the government can facilitate such visits regardless of who the visitor is."

President Kim also expressed his optimism about North Korea saying,"the degree to which North Korea has opened up is truly amazing and since it is now hard for North Korea to revert back to isolationism, inter-Korean contacts will be carried out without serious obstacles."

by Kim Jin-kook