KNRC secretary-general fired

Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) president Chang Choong-Sik dismissed on Thursday secretary-general Park Kee-Ryon, chief delegate to the inter-Korean Red Cross talks, and appointed Kang Dae-Man, planning-management bureau director, as acting secretary general to replace Park.

The row over the disputed resignation of the ex-secretary general was brought to a conclusion with Park's dismissal, but it is expected that there will be growing calls for confidence-restoring efforts and internal reform.

Chang said he fired Park in compliance with the opinions of bureau directors, who contended that Park should resign for his remarks to the local media.

The KNRC president also told reporters that he had no intention for the present to resign from the post, saying he would consider the question after addressing the problems within the Red Cross and the dealing with pending inter-Korean Red Cross matters.

In response, outgoing secretary general Park said he would not comply with president Chang's request for his resignation. He announced that he would resign on Dec. 30.

The feud between Chang and Park grew more bitter in the course of resolving a dispute over critical remarks Chang made against North Korea in an interview with a monthly magazine, Park's decision to send a secret letter to the North Korean Red Cross without consulting with the president, and Chang's ensuing abrupt flight to Japan on the eve of the second round of inter-Korean family reunions following Park¡¯s advice.