Two major labor groups to attend N.K. festival

Representatives of the nation' two major labor organizations, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), and six civic groups held a press conference Thursday to announce that they would attend the celebrations for the 55th anniversary of the North Korean Workers' Party Oct. 10.

The representatives said that they were grateful for the invitations extended by their North Korean compatriots on the auspicious occasion and called for the government to positively cooperate with them in their decision to visit the North by transcending ideologies and systems.

The organizations plan to form visiting groups of 40-50 members, submit applications to the Unification Ministry Friday and discuss detailed procedures for their proposed visits with the government authorities concerned.

However, it is uncertain whether the government will authorize their trips into North Korea in view of the prevailing national sentiment.