N. Korean ceremonial leader meets with Singaporean president

SEOUL, May 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam,
met with Singaporean President Sellapan Rama Nathan and discussed ways to bolster
friendly relations between the two countries, Pyongyang's state media said
Friday.

Kim arrived in Singapore on Wednesday on his way to South Africa, where he is
scheduled to attend the inauguration of President-elect Jacob Zuma on Saturday.
"The two sides exchanged their opinions with regard to ways of further developing
friendly relations between the two countries and other issues of mutual concern,"
the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, a state-run radio, said of the talks
held on Thursday.
Kim, 81, represents North Korea on state visits and summits and receives visiting
heads of state as the country's titular head. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il,
67, rarely travels abroad.
The trip will also take Kim to Zimbabwe, the state media said earlier, without
specifying the purpose of the visit. His entourage includes Ri Ryong-nam,
minister of foreign trade, and Kim Hyong-jun, vice minister of foreign affairs,
they said.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)