Former ROK first lady to go to DPRK to mark Kim's death

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) said on Saturday a former first lady and the chairwoman of the giant Hyundai business conglomerate will be permitted to go to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to join ceremonies marking the death of DPRK leader Kim Jong-il.

A spokesman for the ROK Unification Ministry said Lee Hee-ho, the widow of late president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kim Dae-jung, will lead a 13-member delegation for a two-day trip from Monday.

The ministry also said Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, the wife of the business group's former chairman Chung Mong-hun, will lead another five-member delegation to Pyongyang.