The head of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation says that former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan could serve as an important messenger even though he is not visiting North Korea as the president’s special envoy.

The head of the non-governmental council Jeong Se-hyun, who had served as President Roh Moo-hyun's first unification minister, said Wednesday that Pyongyang might utilize Seoul officials who it thinks can talk directly to the South Korean leadership.

He urged an inter-Korean summit as soon as possible, saying that the former prime minister will be in a position to smoothly deliver Seoul’s stance on the matter when he meets with the North’s parliamentary leader Kim Yong-nam.

The ex-unification minister said that summit talks would serve as a useful channel to persuade Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear programs, adding that the earlier such talks take place, the better.

Jeong had predicted earlier that an inter-Korean summit could come by June.