Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won has offered to visit Pyongyang as a special envoy to pay respects following the death of Kim Yong-nam, North Korea’s former head of state.

Park, who previously served as South Korea’s intelligence chief, wrote on social media Tuesday that he'd met Kim more than ten times and would “gladly go as a representative to express condolences.”

He recalled past inter-Korean condolence exchanges, noting that a North Korean delegation attended former President Kim Dae-jung’s funeral and that former first lady Lee Hee-ho visited Pyongyang after former leader Kim Jong-il’s death.

Park said he'd conveyed his offer to Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and would make the same request to intelligence chief Lee Jong-seok.

He described Kim as a “tall, dignified diplomat respected by both Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un,” emphasizing his long career as North Korea’s foreign minister and ceremonial head of state.

The Korean Central News Agency announced the death of Kim, who led North Korea’s delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics, on Monday.