RI sends official to Kim's funeral

RI sends official to Kim's funeral

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will send a special envoy to the
funeral of North Korean President Kim Il-Sung if Pyong-yang
wishes to hold such a ceremony, Minister/State Secretary
Moerdiono said yesterday.

Moerdiono told reporters yesterday that President Soeharto, on
behalf of the people of Indonesia, sent a message of condolence
and sympathy to the government and people of North Korea shortly
after receiving word of the death of the man considered the
world's last hard-line Stalinist leader.

He said, as of yesterday afternoon, his office had not
received information on whether a special funeral ceremony will
be held in honor of the late Kim.

"But if a funeral ceremony is held and state leaders are
invited, President Soeharto has indicated that he will appoint an
official of the highest possible level to attend," Moerdiono
said.

Kim Il-Sung, 82, died on Friday of a heart attack.

His death came in the midst of nuclear talks between his
country and South Korea, the U.S. and the International Atomic
Energy Agency, which have jointly accused North Korea of
developing nuclear weapons.

Indonesia, as leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, has
repeatedly encouraged peace talks and dialogs instead of an arms
race, between the involved parties.

Observers are currently watching to see whether Kim's death
will have an impact on the process of the nuclear talks.(pwn)