Red Cross Chief To Visit North

Didier J. Cherpitel, secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, will visit Pyongyang and Seoul from Tuesday through Aug. 6.

A South Korean Red Cross official said Monday, "Mr. Cherpitel will arrive in Seoul on Saturday after meeting with Jang Jae-on, the chairman of North Korea's Red Cross, to discuss aid to the North."

Mr. Cherpitel, who will visit North Korea for the first time since he was installed in January, is also scheduled to review relief activities in the North overseen by nine members of the Federation during his visit.

In Seoul, Mr. Cherpitel will discuss his visit to North Korea with Suh Young-hoon, the president of the South's Red Cross; Lim Dong-won, the unification minister, and Han Seung-soo, the minister of foreign affairs and trade.

Prior to Mr. Cherpitel's visit, Mr. Suh visited the Federation's headquarters in Geneva early last May and exchanged opinions and ideas concerning various interaction between the two Koreas, including family reunions.

by Lee Young-jong