South Korea ? In death as in life, Kim Dae-jung managed to bring the two rival Koreas together.

Hours before his funeral Sunday, North Korean officials dispatched to Seoul to pay their respects to the Nobel Peace Prize winner held talks with South Korea’s president — the first high-level inter-Korean contact after many months of tension.

They relayed a message about bilateral relations from North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during a half hour of “serious and amicable” talks with President Lee Myung-bak, Lee’s spokesman said.

Seoul’s Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo newspapers reported that the reclusive Kim had expressed his desire to hold a summit with Lee, citing unidentified officials. But Seoul’s presidential Blue House denied the reports.