North Korea's Kim Yong-nam starts three-day visit in Jakarta

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

North Korean ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam started his three-days official visit to Indonesia on Wednesday with signs pointing to strengthening relations between the two Asian countries.

Greeted by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda at Halim Perdanakusumah Airport on Wednesday, Kim is slated to hold talks with President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday.

Hundreds of flag-waving students gathered at the airport greeted North Korea's second highest official.

The visit of the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, is part of a tour that includes Libya and Syria, said the official North's Korean Central News Agency.

Indonesian officials view the visit as a positive response to Jakarta's role in pushing for peace talks between North Korea and South Korea.

In her state visit to Pyongyang in March, Megawati delivered a peace message from Seoul to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

Megawati, whose family's relationship with Kim Jong-il dates back to 1964, promised Kim Jong-il that she would support peace efforts in the peninsula.

Kim Young-nam's visit comes amid fresh tension between the two Koreas after an attack against a South Korean vessel last week that killed dozens of sailors.

Earlier, Hassan said that Indonesia was committed to supporting peace efforts.

He underlined that the visit was more likely to bring positive political impacts to both countries especially in establishing peace in the region.

"Our trade with North Korea is not much, but we do have good diplomatic relationships with Pyongyang," Hassan said recently.

Kim was accompanied by Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun and Foreign Trade Minister Ri Kwang-gun. They are slated to meet several Indonesian officials during the visit.

On Thursday, Jakarta and Pyongyang are scheduled to sign two memorandums of understanding to avoid double taxation and cooperation in science and technology.

Megawati's father, first president Sukarno, was one of Pyongyang's dear friend and a street in the city was named after him.

The relations have continued to grow although Sukarno fell from power in 1966. Both countries are members of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM).