National Intelligence Service Director Kim Man-bok is confirmed to have visited North Korea just before the South Korean presidential election on December 19th.

A source said he went to Pyongyang via an overland route on the seventeenth. He is said to have visited for two days to discuss installation of a signboard for a tree planted there by President Roh Moo-hyun during South-North summit talks in early October.

The sign reportedly reads "Republic of Korea President Roh Moo-hyun."

During the summit talks, Mr. Roh planted a South Korean pine tree at the central Pyongyang botanical garden.

During his visit, the intelligence chief is known to have met Kim Yang-gon, director of the North Korean Workers' Party United Front Department. They discussed a visit to Seoul by North Korean parliamentary leader Kim Yong-nam but failed to reach agreement.