South Korea's former first lady will soon contact North Korean officials to discuss the details of her planned trip to the communist nation, her aides said Thursday.
   
The unification ministry also confirmed that Lee Hee-ho, the widow of former President Kim Dae-jung, has sought approval for communication with the North's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee. 
   
"The government accepted the report as it met all related requirements," a ministry official told reporters, adding the two sides will mainly exchange fax messages.
  
The Kim Dae Jung Peace Center in Seoul said it will soon contact the North's committee, which handles inter-Korean affairs, including joint economic projects.
   
"The specific timing of the visit, entourage and the size of a delegation have not been decided yet," a center official said. 
   
Lee, 92, hopes to visit the North to support an aid program to provide babies and kids there with knit hats, scarves and clothes, added the official.
   
If Lee, whose late husband is famous for his efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, travels to North Korea, she would become one of the highest-profile South Korean figures to visit there amid a drawn-out lack of government-level dialogue between the two sides. 
   
In a meeting with President Park Geun-hye late last month, Lee expressed her hope to travel to North Korea, and Park responded positively.
   
Lee last visited Pyongyang in December 2011 to attend the funeral of Kim Jong-il. At that time, she met with the current leader, Kim Jong-un.
  
An aide to Lee said it's uncertain whether she will be able to meet Kim again even if she visits North Korea this time.
   
Lee's late husband Kim Dae-jung is respected in North Korea for his efforts for inter-Korean reconciliation. In 2000, Kim held summit talks with then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, a fruit of Kim's trademark "sunshine policy" of engaging the North. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize later that year.
  
Under the South's National Security Law, all of its nationals must report plans to contact North Koreans to the government in advance. Any trip to the North requires the government's approval as well. (Yonhap)