Red Crosses of Both Koreas Will Meet in October

Both Koreas agreed to hold the 4th Red Cross Meeting to discuss the issues related to the separated families in October.

In addition, in the continuing session of the 5th Ministerial Meeting at Olympia Hotel, Seoul, both Koreas continued on the negotiation to reach an agreement on the implementation of the revitalization of the Mt. Keumgang tour and the working group meeting for the resumption of the Kyong-Ui railroad construction. Lee Bong-Jo, the director of the unification policy bureau, said that ``the negotiation is still on the process but the joint announcement including the agreements on the separated family issues will be released by the morning of 18th.``

The government held a Standing committee of the National Security Council presided by Hong Soon-Young, the Unification Minister, and decided to move forward with a plan to make agreements on the possible issues at first and to continue discuss with the North about the electric power support, the passage of the commercial ships through the territories, and the railroad connection project through the South-North-Russia.

Meanwhile, President Kim Dae-Jung invited the North delegation (Chairperson Kim Young-Sung) yesterday afternoon and asked for the best efforts to reach a concrete achievement on the separated family issues and the re-connection of the Kyong-Ui railroad. At the meeting, the President was accompanied by Hong Soon-Young, the Unification Minister and the Chief delegate of the South Delegation, Im Dong-Won the special aide to the President on the diplomacy, security, and unification, and Kim Ha-Jung, the senior secretary of diplomacy and security.

Kim Young-Sik spear@donga.com