National Security Council discusses pending projects between the two Koreas

The government yesterday held a National Security Council meeting, discussing follow-up measures to agreements reached Sept. 14 between the president's special aide Lim Dong-won and North Korean special envoy Kim Yong-sun.

Led by Unification Minister Park Jae-kyu, high-ranking government officials labeled the four-day visit by the North Korean Workers' Party secretary and his meeting with the South Korean chief of the National Intelligence Service a success. At the meeting, the officials also decided to swiftly draw up measures among related government agencies for the upcoming second round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks that will deal with the divided families issue, and the planned reconstruction of the Kyongui Railway Line.

The participating officials, in particular, discussed government preparations for the North's reported reuest for 1 million tons of food from the South. The two sides are expected to hammer out the details of the food aid at the upcoming inter-Korean economic talks planned for Sept. 25. Participants also delved into how to gather public consensus regarding the size and timing of food aid to the North.

Meanwhile, the Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) yesterday sent through the Panmunjom telephone channel the list of the South Korean delegation that will attend the Red Cross talks to take place at the Mt. Kumgang Hotel Sept. 20-22.

Secretary-General Park Ki-ryun of the KNRC will be leading the 22-member delegation to the North's famous mountain resort.

by Lee Young-jong