South Korea to Send 40 Delegates to North

The delegation list for the “Unification Festival for the Fifth Anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration” scheduled to be held in Pyongyang, North Korea from June 14 to 17 has been finalized.

The Unification Ministry announced on June 12 that the delegation would be composed of 40 individuals, including nine government representatives, support groups, and reporters, with Unification Minister Chung Dong-young leading the delegation,

The North has organized its own delegation consisting of 16 representatives, including senior cabinet councilor Kwon Ho Ung (the Northern head of the inter-Korean ministerial talks) and eight advisors including the vice commissioner of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) Lim Dong Ok, led by the vice commissioner of the CPRF Kim Ki Nam.

During the event, the Southern delegation will participate in major events held by private groups such as the opening ceremony for the June 15 festival and the Grand Celebration of National Unification, and will also hold joint commemorating events and four additional luncheon and dinner parties on June 15. Also, on June 16, the group will meet with Kim Young Nam, the chairman of the President of the Supreme People`s Assembly Presidium.

The South’s Joint Preparatory Committee for the event had sent a list of 300 civil delegates to the North on June 11.

taewon_ha@donga.com