N. Korea's No. 2 leader arrives in South Africa: report

SEOUL, May 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's second highest official next to leader Kim
Jong-il has arrived in South Africa, the North's state media reported Saturday,
where he is expected to attend the inauguration of new South African President
Jacob Zuma.

"Kim Yong-nam, the President of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's
Assembly arrived in Johannesburg May 8 to make an official visit to South
Africa," the North's Korean Central News Agency reported. DPRK stands for the
North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Kim, 81, serves as North Korea's titular head of state. He earlier held talks
with President Sellapan Ramanathan Nathan of Singapore during a short visit there
while en route to the African state.
Hong Joon-pyo, the floor leader of South Korea's ruling majority Grand National
Party, is also visiting South Africa as a special government envoy to the
inauguration of Zuma, to be held Saturday (local time).
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)