Kim Death) N. Korean leader's top aides to attend Kim Dae-jung's funeral

((ATTN: MODIFIES lead, UPDATES with Seoul official's quote, details)
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea will send a six-member delegation,
including North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's top aides, to the funeral of former
South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, with Seoul to approve their trip later
Thursday, a spokesperson said.

North Korea sent a fax message to the Kim Dae Jung Peace Center, a non-profit
organization established by the former president, giving the names of those in
the delegation and other details of their two-day trip that begins Friday,
Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said.
"After a review of the (North Korean) request, the government will approve it
later in the afternoon," Lee said.
The delegation includes Kim Ki-nam, a secretary of the Workers' Party Central
Committee, and Kim Yang-gon, a party department director in charge of
inter-Korean affairs, officials said. The two are among the closest aides to
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
Earlier Thursday, the North Korean leader sent a condolence message to the former
president's family. The Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, the North's
semi-official organ in charge of inter-Korean affairs, later sent a fax message
saying the North Korean leader will send a delegation of "special envoys" to the
funeral.
Kim, who died Tuesday from multiple organ failure at age 85, held a historic
first summit with the North Korean leader in 2000, which earned him the Nobel
Peace Prize later that year.
A state funeral for the former president will be held at the National Assembly on
Sunday.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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