Chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, Chung Sye-kyun, on Thursday proposed the government send former President Kim Dae-jung to North Korea as a special envoy to improve worsening inter-Korean relations.

At a meeting with Korean reporters in Tokyo, Chung said that the two previous administrations worked hard to advance inter-Korean relations, but that the progress has been reversed by the current government.

Chung stressed that the former president has extensive knowledge of inter-Korean issues, is trusted by North Korea and also has a strong international reputation.

Chung also said he will ask U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to designate Mr. Kim as the United Nations' special envoy to North Korea.