3rd Red Cross talks to open on Jan. 29

The Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) said Friday that it would give favorable consideration to a North Korean Red Cross proposal that the third round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks be held Jan. 29-31 at a site in Mt. Kumgang.

Meeting at Panmumjon Friday afternoon, liaison officers of the two Red Cross societies exchanged views on opening the third round of Red Cross talks. The proposal was made in a message North Korean Red Cross chief Jang Jae-Eon delivered over the telephone to KNRC President Suh Young-Hoon.

Red Cross officials here said they should first reconfirm the position of the North on staging the third round of reunions of separated family members on Feb. 26-28 as proposed by the South. If North Korea does not seek to reschedule the reunion, the officials said, the South is likely to agree to hold the third round of talks in accordance with North Korea's proposal.

Jon Kum-Jin, North Korea's chief delegate to the inter-Korean ministerial conference, sent a telephone message to Unification Minister Park Jae-Kyu in which he called for a meeting by officials for the exchange of Taekwondo instructors to take place at an early date.