Anchor: Amid strained inter-Korean relations, former first lady Lee Hee-ho is now in North Korea for a four-day visit. Before boarding a plane to Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, the 92-year old widow of late President Kim Dae-jung expressed her hope to contribute to Korean reconciliation based on a landmark agreement her husband signed in an historic summit with then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000.
Our Kim Bum-soo has more.
 
Report: The widow of former President Kim Dae-jung has embarked on a four-day trip to North Korea.
 
North Korea's state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that former first lady Lee Hee-ho and 18 South Koreans accompanying her landed at the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.
 
The Kim Dae-jung Peace Center said Lee and her delegation arrived at the Paekhwawon State Guest House in Pyongyang where former South Korean presidents stayed during visits to the North in 2000 and 2007. The former first lady is said to have held a luncheon with North Koreans to coordinate the schedule for her visit.
 
Speaking to reporters before his inter-Korean trip with the 92-year old, former Culture Minister Kim Sung-jae said Lee is travelling to Pyongyang with hopes of helping the two Koreas heal the pain of their 70-year-long separation.
 
He said Lee also wants to contribute to reconciliation based on the spirit of the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration, made during a historic inter-Korean summit in 2000 between her late husband and former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
 
The former South Korean culture minister, now a director at the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center, added that the former first lady hopes her visit will open the possibility for free travel across the border by many other people.  

Kim said the North had promised to set up direct telephone and fax lines at Lee’s accommodation in the North to enable the South Korean delegation to directly communicate with the Ministry of Unification in Seoul. He added that they will try to keep in contact as often as possible.
 
A Kim Dae-jung Peace Center official said there was no indication from the North about a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. While in the North, Lee is scheduled to visit hospitals for women and children, an orphanage and Mount Myohyang.

The visit, which had been pursued since the end of last year, comes as the two Koreas are gearing up to celebrate their 70th anniversary of liberation. Earlier on Monday, the North sent an official invitation to the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center. The Ministry of Unification completed administrative procedures the same evening.

The current trip marks Lee’s third visit to the North, following a trip to pay homage to the death of Kim Jong-il in 2011. She also accompanied her husband for the inter-Korean summit in 2000. 

In addition to the former Culture Minister Kim Sung-jae, Lee's delegation includes Seoul National University honorary Professor Paik Nak-chung, Dankook University Chairman Chang Choong-sik, Chunjae Education Chairman Choi Yong-joon and secretary general of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center Yoon Cheol-gu.

The 92-year old former first lady will return to South Korea on Saturday. 
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News