Lee Hee-ho: Former South Korea First Lady Arrives in North Korea

Former South Korea’s First Lady Lee Hee-ho has travelled to North Korea for a peace visit.

It is unclear whether, the widow of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, who is on a private trip, will be able to meet top North Korean officials, including leader Kim Jong-un.

In 2000, President Kim Dae-jung held inter-Korean reconciliation talks – later winning a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

The two Koreas are technically still at war since 1953.

Kim Dae-jung, who died in 2009, was a supporter of rapprochement with Pyongyang. The summit between him and Kim Jong-un’s father, and former leader Kim Jong-il, led to a time of relatively better relations between the two Koreas.

“Lee voiced hope that the two Koreas could heal pain and wounds from a 70-year-long inter-Korean division and promote reconciliation and co-operation, “ said Kim Sung-jae, from the Kim Dae-jung Peace Centre which organized the trip, according to Yonhap news agency.

“She expressed wishes that this visit could pave the way for continuous dialogue, exchanges and co-operation between the two Koreas.”

Lee Hee-ho’s official itinerary says she will visit a maternity clinic, an orphanage and a children’s hospital.