Kim Jong-Il to visit Seoul after April

A high-ranking South Korean government official said Monday that North Korean Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-Il would visit Seoul after his trip to Russia, indicating that his reciprocal visit to Seoul will be realized after April.

The official forecast that the North Korean leader's Seoul visit would follow Russian President Putin's Seoul visit this month, President Kim Dae-Jung's visit to the United States and his trip to Russia are slated for April.

Because President Kim directed officials concerned to prepare for the Kim Jong-Il visit slowly and patiently, the official said that the president's remarks contained various implications.

President Kim is expected to visit the United States in March, the official added.