An aide to former President Kim Dae-jung says North Korean leader Kim Jong-il wants to visit South Korea at an "appropriate time."

Kim Han-jung said Sunday that the North Korean leader, during his trip to China in April, told a top Chinese official that he intends to visit Seoul.

The North Korean leader had agreed to visit the South after hosting ex-President Kim Dae-jung in Pyongyang for a historic inter-Korean summit in June 2000.

The top Chinese official was also quoted as saying that the North Korean leader intends to follow through on the trip and also meet former President Kim during his stay in the South.

Kim Han-jung returned home on Sunday after accompanying the former president on a five-day trip to China last week.