Lee Hee-ho, the widow of late South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, has flown to North Korea, saying she hoped the rare trip would help ease cross-border tensions.
The 5-8 August visit is ostensibly humanitarian in nature but there has been much speculation about a possible meeting with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, who personally approved the trip.
“I hope that this trip will offer a window for more dialogue, exchange and co-operation,” Lee was quoted as saying by her spokesman at a Seoul airport.
“I am going to Pyongyang with hopes that Koreans can … heal the wounds and pain of the past 70 years of division.”
