North Korean leader 'assured' in role
Source: Agencies |
December 28, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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A SOUTH Korean mourning delegation returned home yesterday after meeting with North Korea's next leader, who has rapidly gained prominence since his father's death.
Kim Jong Un's brief meeting on Monday with a group led by a former South Korean first lady and a prominent business leader shows Seoul that he is assured in his new role atop the country's ruling structure.
The South Koreans also met Kim Yong Nam, president of Presidium of North Korea's parliament. He often represents the country and is considered a nominal head of state.
The sides agreed to push for the implementation of 2000 and 2007 summit agreements between the countries aimed at expanding economic cooperation, the Korean Central News Agency said.
A spokesman for one of the delegations confirmed that the summit deals, which would benefit North Korea financially, were discussed.
The lead delegates were the widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who engineered a "sunshine" engagement policy with North Korea and held a landmark summit with Kim Jong Il in 2000, and Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, whose late husband had ties to the country. North Korea sent delegations to Seoul when the women's husbands died.
During Kim Jong Un's meeting with the South Koreans, he thanked them after they expressed condolences and sympathy over his father's death. Kim Jong Il died on December 17.
They stood on a red carpet and bowed silently at the Kumsusan Palace, where Kim Jong Il's bier is surrounded by flowers and flanked by an honor guard. Kim Jong Un and the two women later exchanged handshakes and clasped their hands when they spoke briefly.
Kim Jong Un's brief meeting on Monday with a group led by a former South Korean first lady and a prominent business leader shows Seoul that he is assured in his new role atop the country's ruling structure.
The South Koreans also met Kim Yong Nam, president of Presidium of North Korea's parliament. He often represents the country and is considered a nominal head of state.
The sides agreed to push for the implementation of 2000 and 2007 summit agreements between the countries aimed at expanding economic cooperation, the Korean Central News Agency said.
A spokesman for one of the delegations confirmed that the summit deals, which would benefit North Korea financially, were discussed.
The lead delegates were the widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who engineered a "sunshine" engagement policy with North Korea and held a landmark summit with Kim Jong Il in 2000, and Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, whose late husband had ties to the country. North Korea sent delegations to Seoul when the women's husbands died.
During Kim Jong Un's meeting with the South Koreans, he thanked them after they expressed condolences and sympathy over his father's death. Kim Jong Il died on December 17.
They stood on a red carpet and bowed silently at the Kumsusan Palace, where Kim Jong Il's bier is surrounded by flowers and flanked by an honor guard. Kim Jong Un and the two women later exchanged handshakes and clasped their hands when they spoke briefly.
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