The Democratic Party of Japan plans to dispatch a delegation of lawmakers to North Korea, possibly this summer, at the request of Pyongyang's de facto No. 2 man, party officials said Thursday.
DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama revealed the plan in a meeting with executives of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun), who visited Hatoyama at DPJ headquarters.
"It will depend on when the next general election will be held. But I hope (the delegation can go) before summer," DPJ officials quoted Hatoyama as telling the Chongryun executives, indicating the timing may follow the election.