S. Korean President Lee Myung-bak visits former President Kim Dae-jung in hospital

SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bakon Tuesday paid a surprise visit to former President Kim Dae-jung who has been hospitalized with pneumonia for around a month.

President Lee, arriving at Seoul's Severance Hospital, urged the doctors to do their best on the ex-president.

"I am positive (he) will be able to make a full recovery as I have seen a lot of similar cases," President Lee said to former First Lady Lee Hee-ho, who in turn expressed her thanks to him.

President Lee, however, did not enter the hospital room to meet with the former president.

Upon Lee's visit, Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman for the presidential office, said the president's visit was earlier scheduled but delayed due to Kim's critical condition.

"He is one of the country's political leaders who has left a large footprint in our democratization and reconciliation (with North Korea). It is a duty to pay our respects to him and wish himwell," the president was quoted as saying.

Ex-president Kim, having taken office as president between 1998and 2003, was admitted to the hospital on July 13 for showing symptoms of pneumonia.

Having faced a number of critical moments, Kim on Sunday fell to a deteriorated state, though he later became stable again.