South, North form groups for 2nd separated family reunion

The government and the Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) Sunday started preparatory work for the second reunion of family members separated between the South and the North scheduled for Nov. 20-Dec. 1.

As a preliminary step, the KNRC sent guide letters to the 100 people who will visit Pyongyang and the family members of North Koreans who will come to Seoul.

The government and the KNRC made reservations at Lotte World Hotel in Chamsil, southeastern Seoul for the North Korean visitors and confirmed the Millennium Hall on the sixth floor of the Kangnam Central City complex as the venue for the group reunion on the first day.

Earlier on Saturday, the KNRC and its North Korean counterpart held a liaison officers¡¯ meeting at Panmunjom to exchange the lists of separated family members who will visit the other side and a memorandum of understanding guaranteeing the safety of the visitors.

The South Korean delegation, headed by KNRC Vice President Pong Du-Wan, consists of 100 separated family members, 30 supporting attendants and 20 reporters for a total of 151 people.

The North Korean delegation, headed by Jang Jae-On, president of the North Korean Red Cross society, totals 136 -- 100 separated family members, 20 supporting attendants and 15 journalists.

Among the South Korean visitors are Wu Won-Hyong, who offered his chance to go to the North for the first reunion to Chang I-Yun, whose 101-year-old mother¡¯s death was confirmed in the first exchange visit. Also in the list is 100-year-old Yu Tu-Hi, who is scheduled to meet her son.

Meanwhile, the North¡¯s Red Cross repeatedly stressed in the liaison officers¡¯ meeting that gifts for family members should be limited to clothes for parents, souvenirs for brothers and sisters and less than US$500 in cash, a KNRC official said. In particular, the North reminded the South that no second-hand goods should be given as gifts.