89-year-old man dies on eve of reunion

An 89-year-old South Korean man died of chronic disease Sunday, just two days ahead of his scheduled reunion with his brother in North Korea who will come to Seoul Tuesday.

The man, who was ailing for acute lymphatic cancer since June, lost consciousness on August 7 suddenly and died at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday.

His bereaved family members said that he was very happy upon hearing that his younger brother, who he thought had died during the Korean War after he was forced to become a North Korean volunteer soldier, was alive and would come to Seoul to see him.

He came to his senses on Friday and called his brother`s name but died suddenly Sunday, they said.