An aide to former president Kim Dae-jung has denied as completely baseless a report that Kim will visit North Korea in early April.

Choi Kyung-hwan on Friday ruled out a change in Kim's plan to visit the North in late April by train, adding Kim is waiting for Pyongyang's response.

Choi said Kim has handled contact with Pyongyang through the Unification Ministry in Seoul and will continue to do so.

On the main opposition party's urge that Kim delay his visit until after the May local elections, Choi declined comment.

The Korea Resources Corporation said it is arranging Kim's visit in early April, timed with a ceremony to mark the completion of an inter-Korean graphite mine on the North's west coast.