2 Koreas to meet in Kaesong to discuss ex-First Lady Lee’s visit to Pyongyang

2 Koreas to meet in Kaesong to discuss ex-First Lady Lee’s visit to Pyongyang. June. 27, 2015 06:45. zeitung@donga.com.

South and North Korea will have contact in Kaesong on Tuesday to discuss a visit to Pyongyang in July by former First Lady Lee Hee-ho, the wife of the late former President Kim Dae-jung. Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a personal letter in December last year to former First Lady Lee, chances are reportedly high that Lee will meet with the North Korean leader, if she does visit Pyongyang. Lee’s visit has been postponed twice since December last year.

“We will discuss schedule for former First Lady Lee’s visit to Pyongyang with Maeng Kyong Il, the vice chairman of the (North) Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee on Tuesday,” said, Kim Seong-jae, director of the Kim Dae-jung Academy. “She will visit the North in July or no later than Liberation Day on August 16.” Five people including Director Kim and officials from the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center will visit Kaesong this time. The Unification Ministry will approve their visit to the North.

Lee’s side and North Korea agreed on her visit through an inland route and her lodging (Paek Hwa Won Guest House) in November last year. However, the visit in December was postponed due to Lee’s health problem. Then Kim Jong Un sent her a personal letter suggesting “Please visit Pyongyang in a good season next year (in 2015) without fail.” As a result, Lee’s visit was sought in May this year, but Pyongyang halted communications after sending a memo reading, “We will inform you after choosing a good timing and schedule.” Thus, Lee’s side requested again for discussion about her visit schedule on June 18, and the North sent an invitation on Thursday to make preparatory contact.

While communications were exchanged with Lee’s side, the North informed the South of its boycott of the Gwangju Universiade Games by citing reasons, including the opening of the U.N. field office on North Korea’s human rights in Seoul, and threatened Seoul with “collapse of inter-Korean relations.” Pyongyang thus effectively opened doors to Lee, while shutting the doors for dialogue between the authorities of the two Koreas. The Seoul government is paying attention to whether Lee will meet with Kim Jong Un, because it will be the first opportunity during the incumbent Park Geun-hye administration to explain its policy on North Korea and commitment to improve inter-Korean ties. Even though the government does not officially requests her, Lee’s side reportedly has intention to convey such information and message. As such, watchers say that the government should use Lee as its messenger to Pyongyang.