PYONGYANG, June 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Kim Jong-il, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met with South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young and discussed various of issues including nuclear standoff on Friday.

    During the meeting, which was the first time between Kim and South Korea's unification minister since April 2002, Chung conveyed a verbal message from South Korean President Roh Moo-hyunto Kim, while

S. Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young (L) smiles with DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il (C) as former S. Korean intelligence chief Lim Dong-won looks on in Pyongyang June 17.

Kim asked Chung to bring his regards to Roh and former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

    South Korean Yonhap news said that Kim and Chung held "in-depth" discussion over the nuclear issue, inter-Korean relations, and proposal of launching another round of separated family reunion.     

    Chung, who led a government delegation to Pyongyang, admitted he had good discussion during a closed-door meeting and a luncheon with Kim.

S. Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young (L) poses with DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il (R) in Pyongyang June 17.

    Chung's meeting with Kim Jong-il came after a closed-door talks with Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of DPRK's Supreme People's Assembly, on Thursday evening.

    South Korean media said Chung conveyed a verbal messages from South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun about last Friday's summit between Roh and US President George W. Bush in Washington.

    Following the South Korean-US summit, Roh said that Seoul and Washington agreed to continue diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully, while Bush confirmed the United States has no plan to invade the DPRK and promised "more normal relations" with DPRK if Pyongyang abandons its nuclear program.

    A 340-member South Korean delegation arrived here on Tuesday to attend the three-day joint ceremonies for the fifth anniversary of the 2000 Inter-Korean Summit and returned to Seoul on Friday. Enditem