Koreas mourn death of SKorea's Kim Dae-jung

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea's leader sent condolences to South Korea on Wednesday following the death of former President Kim Dae-jung and proposed dispatching a delegation to honor a man whose unflagging fight for democracy and reconciliation earned him the title "Nelson Mandela of Asia."

In central Seoul, mourners — many clad in black — bowed before a huge portrait of Kim adorned with white chrysanthemums, the traditional flower of death. Many wiped away tears.

"We will always remember you," read a message scrawled in a condolence book. "Rest in peace — now we will defend Korea's democracy."

Kim, who won the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to foster reconciliation with North Korea, died Tuesday at age 85. His death unleashed an outpouring of grief across South Korea, and drew condolences from Paris to Pyongyang.

"The feats he performed to achieve national reconciliation and realize the desire for reunification will remain long with the nation," North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency quoted leader Kim Jong Il as saying in a Wednesday report.

Kim will be honored with a state funeral at the National Assembly and laid to rest at a cemetery in southern Seoul on Sunday, Lee Dal-gon, minister of public administration and security, told reporters. Flags will be flown at half-staff until the mourning period ends on Sunday.

North Korea also wants to send a condolence delegation to pay respects. KCNA said Thursday that the delegation would go to Seoul on Friday and Saturday and be led by senior Workers' Party official Kim Ki-nam.