Inter-Korean Red Cross talks set for March

Korean Red Cross president Suh Young-Hoon said Sunday that the third round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks would be held in March. Establishment of a permanent meeting place for separated families will top the agenda.

The disclosure came when Suh gave a televised interview with Sunday during which the new top Red Cross official pledged his best efforts to boost the frequency of inter-Korean reunions and the number of families involved.

He said that in order to facilitate the reunions and reduce costs, permanent locations for the meetings should be established not only at the truce village of Panmunjom and similar border sites but at various locations throughout the country.

Suh stressed the need to create a hospitable atmosphere for facilitating the proposed visit to Seoul of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. Any commercial use of blood donated by citizens must be prevented and supervision should be strengthened to minimize the improper exposure of blood donors' genetic data, he said.