High-profile foreign delegates to attend ex-S. Korean president`s funeral

Groups of foreign dignitaries were flocking to South Korea on Saturday to attend the state funeral of late former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung, internationally recognized for his life-long campaign for the country`s democratization and inter-Korean reconciliation, according to Yonhap News.

The United States announced that it will send a 10-member delegation, led by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright to the ceremony to be held at the National Assembly compound in western Seoul on Sunday.

"The U.S. condolence delegation is scheduled to arrive at the Osan air base by military plane at 6 p.m. today," a South Korean foreign ministry official said.

The team includes Stephen Bosworth, special representative for North Korea policy, Harold Koh, legal advisor at the State Department, Wendy Sherman, former counselor of the State Department, Evans Revere, president of the Korea Society, and James Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Also included are the U.S. ambassador to Seoul Kathleen Stephens and her predecessors _ Donald Gregg, Thomas Hubbard and James Laney.

On Bosworth`s visit, South Korean officials said it is purely aimed at mourning the death of Kim, who died Tuesday at 85 after battling pneumonia. They left the door open however for the possibility of a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Wi Sung-lac to review the recent developments pertinent to North Korea.

China plans to send a 11-member group, headed by former state councilor and foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan to the funeral. The largest foreign delegation to Kim`s funeral includes Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue, in charge of Asian affairs and disarmament.

Japan`s chief delegate will be former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono.