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)