President Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday conveyed his thanks to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il for supporting Yeosu's bid for the 2012 World Expo.

Presidential Spokesman Cheon Ho-seon told a news briefing that the message was delivered verbally by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo, who is now in Pyongyang for talks with his North Korean counterpart.

Cheon said Pyongyang's support of the South Korean bid is the first example of implementing the eighth clause of last month's inter-Korean summit declaration.

That clause calls for increased inter-Korean cooperation on the global stage in the interests of the Korean nation as well as those of overseas Korean nationals.

The spokesman also noted that Seoul expects to see more such cooperation in the future.