The head of the nation’s Red Cross says former President Kim Dae-jung’s wish to visit North Korea in April is aimed at nudging North Korean leader Kim Jong-il into visiting Seoul.

Korea National Red Cross President Han Wan-sang told reporters in Washington Friday that what is notable about Kim’s plan is that he wants to visit the communist state by train.

Han said the ex-president wants to demonstrate that it’s safe to visit the North by rail and urge Kim Jong-il to reciprocate his June 2000 trip to Pyongyang as the North Korean leader promised.

Han made his comments during a stop in Washington to deliver relief funds to victims of Hurricane Katrina.