North Korea's nominal head of state Kim Yong-Nam arrived in Malaysia today to hold talks with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Kim, who is number two behind Kim Jong-Il in the cash-strapped Stalinist state's hierarchy, arrived with a 30-member delegation including Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and Foreign Trade Minister Ri Kwang-Gun, an airport spokesman told AFP.

The head of North Korea's national assembly was due to hold talks with Mahathir and senior government officials tomorrow.

Economic cooperation

The meeting, which is to be followed by the signing of a memorandum of understanding, would focus on economic cooperation and international issues, including the latest development in the Korean peninsula, the official Bernama news agency said.

Kim, who arrived after a three-day visit to Thailand, is expected to have an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalillail.

He is also scheduled to visit the world's tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers, in Kuala Lumpur before flying back on Tuesday. (AFP)