North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a letter to Lee Hee-ho, the widow of late President Kim Dae-jung.

Former Culture Minister Kim Sung-jae said that he received the letter on Wednesday during a meeting with Kim Yang-gon, director of the North’s United Front Department in charge of South Korean affairs.

The former minister made the remarks after returning from a trip to the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in the North along with five other officials of the Kim Dae-jung Peace Center.

The former minister said that the letter expressed the North Korean leader’s gratitude to Lee and an invitation to the North in the spring of next year when the weather is warmer.

The letter also said that the North Korean leader will make active efforts to build on the past generation leaders' commitment to Korean unification and realize the dream of the Korean people.

He added that Kim Yang-gon sincerely hoped for improvement in inter-Korean relations and also that the two Koreas would make significant progress regarding the resumption of tours to Mount Geumgang, the reunions of separated families as well as the issue of current sanctions on the North.

Chairwoman of Hyundai Group Hyun Jung-eun, who also visited the North's city on Wednesday, said she also received Kim Jong-un's letter from Kim Yang-gon.

Hyun told reporters that in the letter, Kim expressed gratitude for her condolences on the third anniversary of the death of his father and that Hyun is welcome to visit Pyongyang.

The visit to the North was arranged at the invitation of Kim Yang-gon. In the invitation letter, Kim said he wanted to thank the center and the Hyundai Group for the wreaths they sent to commemorate the third anniversary of the death of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il last week.