A close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has arrived in Seoul by a cross-border highway.

Kim Yang-gon, who oversees the United Front Department of the North Korean Workers' Party, was welcomed Thursday by Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung and National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Kim Man-bok.

Later in the day, the North's point man on inter-Korean affairs will visit the construction site of the Songdo New Town in Incheon before attending a dinner hosted by the unification minister. The two sides will follow up on last month’s inter-Korean summit.

On Friday, the North Korean official will visit SK Communication Center and a shipyard on the southern island of Geoje. That evening, he will attend a dinner hosted by the NIS chief.

Before returning Saturday, he is also expected to meet with President Roh Moo-hyun.

The Pyongyang official was the only person to accompany North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to the inter-Korean summit.