South-North reunion lists ready

Officials of the Korea National Red Cross met with their counterparts in North Korea at the Panmunjum Red Cross liaison office on August 8 to exchange the lists of the final 100 candidates for family reunions.

The Red Cross has revealed that the South`s government has approved to allow the names on the list given to them by North Korea to be publicly released soon after the exchange.

"The representatives from the South`s and North`s Red Crosses will meet at the liaison office, and after the exchange of the lists, a discussion for the itinerary and the periods of sojourn will take place," a source in the Red Cross said on August 7. "We also shall exchange signed documents guaranteeing the safety of the visitors both in the South and in the North.¡±

A Seoul government source outlined preparations for the visits.

"We shall provide an orientation for the final 100 candidates at the Walker Hill Sheraton Hotel on August 14," he said. "They need to learn of the items such as poisons, animals and plants, and even the earth (dirt) that have been banned for transport to or from North Korea."

He added that the finalists would be asked to refrain from including high priced items in their gift packages.