President Lee pays respect to Kim Dae-jung

SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Friday paid his respects to
the late former President Kim Dae-jung at a memorial altar set up at the
country's parliament.

The former president died Tuesday of pneumonia-related complications at a Seoul
hospital. He was 85 years old.
Kim's body was moved to the National Assembly building Thursday as the government
decided to hold a state funeral with a six-day mourning period.
President Lee's visit to the memorial altar had widely been expected as he
earlier ordered his government to pay "utmost honors" to the late leader.
"We have lost a great political leader. His work and desire for democracy and
national reconciliation will be remembered by the people for years to come," the
president earlier said.
President from 1998-2003, Kim held the first-ever inter-Korean summit with North
Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000 and received the Nobel peace prize later that
year.
A North Korean delegation, headed by Kim Jong-il's top aide on inter-Korean
relations, was set to arrive here later Friday to make a condolatory call.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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