Kim Jong-pil plans trip to North Korea

Kim Jong-pil, the chairman of the United Liberal Democrats, is planning a four-day visit North Korea beginning May 7.
Byun Ung-jun, the party spokesman, said yesterday that Mr. Kim would meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to discuss forestalling a war on the Korean Peninsula.
Mr. Byun qualified the announcement, however, by saying the visit was not yet confirmed and that no North Korean counterpart had been decided. Mr. Kim reportedly received an invitation from North Korea in mid-April and informed President Roh Moo-hyun. It was not clear how the latest increase in tensions would affect the planned trip.
Mr. Byun said, “Chairman Kim will not deliver a message from President Roh to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il because he is not an envoy of President Roh.”