300 South Delegates To Participate in NK`s 8.15 Unification Grand Festival

300 South delegates will visit the North to participate in the events of the `2001 National Unification Grand Festival.`

According to the Organizational Headquarters for 2001 Inter-Korean Joint Events for the Celebration of the 6.15 Inter-Korean Joint Declaration, the working group for the events has been operating in Pyongyang since July 31. The Headquarters planned to hold an Inter-Korean Joint Events but the North refused to send its delegation to Seoul, ending up with the participation of the 300 South delegates in the events.

The South delegation tried in vain to iterate the promise in the joint announcement that `8.15 events for this year focus on the events in Pyongyang but the North Korean delegates will visit Seoul for the 8.15 events next year.` The North made only a verbal promise to hold the event in Seoul.

Kim Young-Sik spear@donga.com