Gov`t to Take Stern Action on Some of Delegates

311 South Korean delegates who participated in the 8.15 Pyongyang Grand Festival for the National Reunification are returning today via Asiana Airlines at the Incheon International Airport.

The government held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Sunday, and decided to investigate some of the South Korean delegates` activities in Pyongyang as soon as they return and to take stern action if there are problems.

The government was reported to have decided that even if the delegation asks for the South-North Cooperation Fund aid, the government would not accept its request considering the public sentiment as well as public opinion.

Meanwhile, the South Korean delegation continued to discuss the issues of the Seoul-Pyongyang joint 8.15 ceremony next year and the North Korean delegation`s visit to Seoul until late night Sunday, but they failed to write out the joint statement due to the differences in opinion.

The South Korean delegation proposed to include as such; Chusuk gift exchange among separated families who have been confirmed to be alive, Seoul-Pyongyang joint exhibition of the Kokuryo relics, and the 8.15 joint ceremony next year. However, South and North did not reach an agreement since the North Korean delegation insisted on stating only the willingness to activate the civilian exchange in terms of principle.

The North did not respond to the South delegation`s request for the talk with Kim Jong-Il, the North Korea`s National Defense Commission Chairman. Meanwhile, Pyongyang Medical School granted an honorary diploma to Bae Eun-Shim, mother of the late Lee Han-Yeol who died during the 1987 democratization movement. Pyongyang Handucksoo Light Industry College granted an honorary diploma to Park Shim-Bae, father of the late Park Seong-Hee. Both Ms. Bae and Mr. Park returned their diplomas saying that they will take them back after unification.

Meanwhile, the South Korean delegation was reported to have submitted a written note, which stated that they would not participate in the ceremony of the Monument to the Three Charters of the National Reunification, to the Minister of Unification. Legal actions on some of the delegates seem unavoidable.

Kim Young-Sik spear@donga.com