North Korea’s state-run news agency says a delegation of North Korean officials will visit Seoul on Friday to pay respects to late former President Kim Dae-jung.

The Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that a delegation headed by Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Ki-nam will visit Seoul for two days starting Friday.

Kim Ki-nam is reportedly one of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s closest aides and has been assisting in carrying out official duties on behalf of the reclusive leader.

Kim Ki-nam visited the Seoul National Cemetery when he traveled to South Korea to attend an event celebrating Independence Day in August 2005. During the trip, Kim also visited former President Kim Dae-jung, who was hospitalized for pneumonia at the time.

Attention is being drawn to whether a high-level meeting between the two Koreas will take place, as North Korea’s delegation is expected to stay in Seoul for two days.