DATE=8/20/2000 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT TITLE=KOREAN FAMILIES (L-ONLY) NUMBER=2-265657 BYLINE=HYUN-SUNG KHANG DATELINE=SEOUL CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: The head of the South Korean Red Cross says there may be further reunions between separated family members from the two Koreas. Chang Chung-Sik also said the Seoul and Pyongyang governments are considering a permanent meeting place for divided families. His comments follow last week's group reunion in Seoul and Pyongyang. From the South Korean capital, Hyun-Sung Khang reports TEXT: The head of the South Korean Red Cross, says he raised the possibility of a second round of family reunions during last week's visit to North Korea. Chang Chung-Sik led a group of 100 South Koreans to the North Korean capital, to be reunited with family members they hadn't seen in half a century. He said the next round of reunions could take place during the Korean thanksgiving holiday which falls on September 12th. Mr Chang also said Churwon, a small town to the northeast of Seoul, was being considered as a permanent meeting place for Korea's divided families. He said South Korea favored the truce village of Panmunjom, while North Korea wanted the meeting point to be at Mount Kumgang. But he added the costs associated with Mount Kumgang would be prohibitive, so a compromise was being sought. The subject of further reunions is likely to be discussed at high-level inter-Korean talks due to take place at the end of August. Red Cross officials from the two Koreas are also scheduled to meet in early September. The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il, has already been quoted as saying he favors continuing the family reunions. Last week, one hundred South Koreans traveled to the North, to meet family members they had been divided from during the civil war of 1950-1953. The same number of North Koreans traveled south for the four day reunion. It was the first such meeting in 15 years and reflected the rapidly warming relations between the two Koreas. (Signed) NEB/HSK/PLM 20-Aug-2000 06:50 AM EDT (20-Aug-2000 1050 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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