S. Korea narrows hopefuls for reunion

S. Korea narrows hopefuls for reunion

SEOUL (AP): South Korea's Red Cross narrowed to 200 the number of candidates on Friday for possible reunions with relatives in communist North Korea after half a century of separation.

South Korea will hand over the list of names to North Korea, which will in turn hand over a separate list of 200 North Koreans to the South on Sunday.

After both sides identify those whose families are dead or cannot be found, the number will be narrowed to 100 each. Names of the selected South Koreans will be released late this month.

The deal is part of an agreement struck by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during an historic summit June from 13 to June 15 in Pyongyang. The two leaders agreed to ease hostilities and seek an eventual unification of the Koreas.

South Korea's Red Cross initially selected 400 candidates out of 75,000 names they have registered since the 1980s through a computer lottery early this month.