S. Korea delegations cross border to mourn Kim’s death

DORASAN — A former South Korean first lady and a leading businesswoman crossed the border to North Korea Monday to pay respects to its late leader Kim Jong-Il.

Visitors look at a map of demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the Imjingak Pavilion, near the border village of the Panmunjom (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011. LEE JIN-MAN/AP PHOTO

Lee Hee-Ho, 89, widow of late president Kim Dae-Jung, and Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jung-Eun, 56, will also meet officials during their two-day trip.

“I hope that our visit to the North will help improve South-North relations,” Yonhap news agency quoted Lee as saying before she crossed the border with her aides.

Kim Dae-Jung and Kim Jong-Il held the first-ever inter-Korea summit in 2000 and Hyundai pioneered cross-border business projects.

The delegations are due to hold a lunch meeting with unidentified officials in Pyongyang later Monday before paying last respects to Kim, according to the South’s unification ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs.

It was unclear whether the officials would include Kim Jong-Un, the late leader’s youngest son and successor. His father died of a heart attack on December 17 at the age of 69.

The Hyundai Group chief had met Kim Jong-Il several times in the past.