A close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will visit South Korea for a three-day stay.

The head of the United Front Department of the North's ruling Workers' Party, Kim Yang-gon, will come to review progress in implementing last month's inter-Korean summit agreement.

He will also visit South Korean industrial facilities including a shipyard on the southern island of Geoje during his stay.

Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung told reporters that his North Korean counterpart and a four-member entourage will arrive in Seoul Thursday by an overland route.

Kim will meet separately with the unification minister and National Intelligence Service Director Kim Man-bok. The intelligence chief had invited the North Korean official during last month's inter-Korean summit and reaffirmed the invitation at this month's prime ministers’ talks.

Pyongyang notified Seoul that it was accepting the invitation Tuesday evening.

The North Korean official will also meet with President Roh Moo-hyun.

Pyongyang's top unification official was the only person to accompany North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to the summit with Mr. Roh.