hankyoreh

Sept. 17. (Photo by Rhee Jong-chan)

By Son Won-je, Staff writer　

Working-level talks on family reunions between the North Korean and South Korean Red Cross are scheduled to continue Thursday at the Janamsan Hotel in Kaesong. As separate talks to negotiate the reunion venue are scheduled, attention is focusing on whether it will lead to concrete talks on the restart of tourism in Mt. Kumgang.

Prior to this, North Korea said through a message sent to the president of the South Korean Red Cross on Monday that since it would send two negotiators to hold separate talks on holding the family reunions at Mt. Kumgang, South Korea should send corresponding officials.

In a response sent Thursday, the South Korean Red Cross said its existing negotiating team would participate in the talks on the venue issue raised by North Korea.

“North Korea has revealed its intention to discuss the issue of restarting Mt. Kumgang tourism by way of the family reunions,” said a South Korean government official. “If separate talks are held, South Korea will listen to North Korea’s claims and explain Seoul’s principles and positions.”

During working-level talks on Sept. 17, North Korea and South Korea reached agreement on the schedule for family reunions, to be held Oct. 21 through 27, but failed to narrow their differences on the venue and scale. As a result, they decided to hold additional working-level talks.

At the time, North Korea stated that it wanted to hold the talks inside the Mt. Kumgang tourism zone, but did not specify a venue. South Korea, meanwhile, demanded that the reunion center at Mt. Kumgang be used. South Korea also wanted to reunite more than 100 families, but North Korea insisted upon 100 families in accordance with precedent.

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