12 Countries Send Delegations to Funeral

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, right, and other foreign delegates pay homage during former President Kim Dae-jung’s funeral held at the National Assembly, Sunday. Twelve countries sent delegations to the state funeral. / Korea Times Photo by Oh Dae-keun

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By Kim Se-jeong
Staff Reporter

08-23-2009

Twelve countries sent delegations to the state funeral of former President Kim Dae-jung, the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright led a 10-member U.S. delegation that included Stephen Bosworth, special representative for North Korea policy; Harold Koh, legal adviser at the State Department; and Wendy Sherman, former counselor of the State Department and the former chief negotiator for the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations.

Also included in the U.S. group were Evans Revere, president of the Korea Society, and James Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Incumbent U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Kathleen Stephens and former American ambassadors were also present. Among them were Thomas C. Hubbard (2001-2004), James T. Laney (1993-1996) and Donald Gregg (1989-1993).

The composition of the U.S. delegation was closely watched, as the issues related to North Korea have made dramatic turns in recent weeks, diplomatic sources said.

China sent an 11-member delegation, headed by former State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan. Included in the group was Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Hu Zhengyue, in charge of Asian affairs and disarmament.

From Japan, a total of nine delegates were led by former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono.

Russia was represented by the solitary figure of Gleb A. Ivashentsov, the country's ambassador here.

Other foreign delegates included Michel Guerry, a member of the French Senate, and Anthony Byrne, Australian parliamentary secretary for trade.

Cambodia sent Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith and East Timor dispatched Fernando Lasama de Araujo, parliamentary chief.

skim@koreatimes.co.kr