S.Korea Delegation Departs for Red Cross Talks with DPRK

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 16, 2002

S.Korea Delegation Departs for Red Cross Talks with DPRK

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The Red Cross Societies of South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will launch three-day working-level talks Sunday to discuss the details of setting up a permanent center for reunions of separated family members.

According to South Korean news agency Yonhap News, the two sides' Red Cross officials will meet at the Haegeumgang Hotel, a floating facility stationed on a vessel off the DPRK's port of Changjon, a gateway to the scenic tourist spot of Mount Geumgang.

Earlier in the day, a three-member South Korean delegation led by Lee Byung-woong, special assistant to South Korean Red Cross chief Suh Young-hoon, left the eastern port of Sokcho of South Korea aboard a cruise ship bound for Changjon.

The South Korean team will meet the DPRK's three-man delegationled by Li Gum-chol, head of DPRK's Red Cross working-level team, reported Yonhap.

The South Korean delegation was scheduled to attend a reception banquet hosted by the DPRK's delegation on Sunday evening, then the two sides will hold talks from next Monday to Tuesday.

During an inter-Korean Red Cross meeting on Oct. 31-Nov. 2, the two sides agreed in principle to set up the center in the village of Chop, Onjongri, at the foot of Mount Geumgang, for reunion meetings of the DPRK and South Korean family members separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War.

However, the two sides failed to sign the agreement because of differences of opinion concerning the construction schedule and the timing of another round of reunions.

Meanwhile, the two countries arranged another three-day working level talks on inter-Korean railways and roads construction from Sunday, Yonhap News reported.

Up to Saturday, South Korea and the DPRK completed their de-mining operations both in the western and eastern part in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) as preparations for the cross-border transportation route.

The talks will touch details of the opening of a temporary inter-Korean road on the eastern part of the DMZ, among others.

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