President Lee pays respects to late Kim Dae-jung

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from President Lee, more details)
SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Friday paid his respects to
the late former leader Kim Dae-jung at a memorial altar set up at the country's
parliament.
The former president died Tuesday of pneumonia-related complications at a Seoul
hospital. He was 85 years old.
Kim's body was moved Thursday to the National Assembly building, where he will
lie in state until a state funeral Sunday at the end of a six-day mourning
period.
"Your heart for the country will always be remembered by all of us," President
Lee wrote in a visitors' book set up at the altar.
In an earlier condolence message, Lee mourned the loss of "a great political
leader."
"His work and desire for democracy and national reconciliation will be remembered
by the people for years to come," he had said.
The president again instructed that "thorough" preparations be made for Kim's
funeral, which he is set to attend, offering his condolences to late leader's
wife, Lee Hee-ho.
The former first lady expressed her gratitude for the government decision to hold
a state funeral.
"It is only appropriate and the right thing to do," the president replied.
A state funeral has only been held once in the country's history when former
President Park Chung-hee was assassinated in 1979. It has since been a tacit
understanding that state funerals are held only for leaders who die while in
office.
The government held a people's funeral when former President Roh Moo-hyun died in
May after jumping off a cliff. His family and aides were under prosecution
investigation on graft allegations at the time.
Having served from 1998-2003, Kim held the first-ever inter-Korean summit with
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000 and received the Nobel Peace Prize later
that year for his cross-border reconciliation efforts.
A North Korean delegation, headed by Kim Jong-il's close aide, was to arrive here
later Friday to pay respects.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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