北김여정, 판문점서 정의용•서호에 이희호 여사 조의 전달<br /><br />North Korea expressed condolences to the South over the death of former first lady Lee Hee-ho.<br />This afternoon, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the regime's leader, handed over flowers and messages to Seoul's top security officials at the border village of Panmunjeom.<br />Oh Jung-hee has the full story. <br />A message of condolences arrived from Pyeongyang over the passing of former South Korean First Lady Lee Hee-ho,... who always showed full support of making peace with North Korea.<br />On Wednesday afternoon, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong came to the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom... along with a senior official from the regime's United Front Department.<br />She delivered a funeral flower arrangement and a written message to three South Korean officials National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong, Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho, and lawmaker Park Jie-won who doubles as the vice director of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center.<br />"They said that the two Koreas should continue to work on inter-Korean cooperation, following Lee Hee-ho's wish to achieve reconciliation between the South and North."<br />Kim Yo-jong added that her brother has special feelings toward the late former First Lady... and thought that it'd be better to deliver condolences directly to high-level South Korean government officials.<br />"We said that we expected a delegation from the North, but unfortunately, that didn't happen this time. However, we earnestly conveyed our appreciation and gratitude over the condolence message and flowers."<br />There were expectations that the North could possibly send a delegation across the border over Lee's passing, as it has done twice in the past when Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung and former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung died.<br />But Pyeongyang chose not to do so this time, and Kim Yo-jong did not explain why.<br />In his message to Lee Hee-ho's family, Kim Jong-un expressed condolences and consolation.<br />He stressed that Lee's efforts to achieve reconciliation and peace between the two Koreas became a precious foundation to current inter-Korean ties and won't be forgotten.<br />Lee Hee-ho was the widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, whose efforts to activate inter-Korean exchanges and promote reconciliation through the "sunshine policy" were globally recognized and earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000.<br />She visited North Korea in 2011 when Kim Jong-il, former North Korean leader and Kim Jong-un's father, died.<br />Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News. <br />
