Family reunions might take air route

The Seoul government and the Korea Red Cross is considering whether to arrange visits by the family reunion team to Pyongyang on Aug. 15 and are expected to make such a proposal to North Korea through a contact on July 19 between liaison officials in Panmunjom.

A government official said that South and North Korea agreed during June 30`s South-North Red Cross talks to use a land or air route for reunions of separated families.

Meanwhile, the government and the Korea Red Cross has begun preparations to exchange lists of people who wish to meet their relatives, as confirmation of who was still living and who had died among the 200 candidates was made by July 18.

As of 6 p.m. on that day, the status of 179 South Korean family members was confirmed, according the Korea Red Cross. However, broadcasting stations reportedly confirmed the status of 190 family members, which is an unofficial tally.