NK leader sends condolence letter via sister

North Korean leader Kim Jongun's only sister Kim Yojong delivered a condolence letter from her brother on the death of former first lady Lee Heeho to the head of the presidential National Security Office (NSO) Chung Euiyong, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.

"Kim Yojong delivered Kim Jongun's condolence letter and flowers to NSO chief Chung during a meeting at the border village of Panmunjeom. Chung accepted them. The letter included Kim Jongun's message to commemorate the death of the late first lady Lee," Yoon Dohan, chief presidential press secretary told reporters in a briefing.

But Yoon didn't comment on whether Kim Yojong delivered a separate letter from Kim Jongun to President Moon Jaein.

Upon arrival his return from Panmunjeom, Chung said Kim Yojong expressed the hope of keeping inter-Korean cooperation alive, given the commitment of Lee for cooperation between citizens in the respective Koreas.

Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho and Rep. Park Jiewon of the minor opposition Party for Democracy and Peace accompanied Chung to the meeting that lasted 15 minutes.

Kim Yojong was accompanied by Ri Hyon, a senior official from the United Front Department in charge of inter-Korean affairs.

The late first lady accompanied her husband to Pyongyang for the first-ever inter-Korean summit with then North Korean leader Kim Jongil in 2000. Lee also visited Pyongyang in 2011 to express condolences after the latter's death, and met with Kim Jongun.

Experts said the North's response to Lee's death may serve as a litmus test for an early resumption of inter-Korean talks, stalled for months after the failure of the Hanoi summit between North Korea and the United States. President Moon earlier said he was hoping to hold another summit with the North Korean leader, but no progress has been made so far.