Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan says former president Kim Dae-jung will visit North Korea in June as a private citizen, not as a special envoy.

In a speech to the National Assembly Wednesday, Lee said the government will not discuss the agenda of Kim's visit, and also denied that President Roh Moo-hyun considered sending a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il via the former president.

Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok also said the ex-president has always wanted to meet the North Korean leader not only as a former president, but also as a private citizen.

The minister added that the visit could bring a breakthrough in Northeast Asian issues and the North's nuclear standoff.

The two Koreas are discussing the opening of an inter-Korean railroad regardless of Kim’s visit to the North by train.