Seoul`s aid to Pyongyang to contain foot-and-mouth disease

Three days were too short in assuaging pain of separation for over 60 years. The second reunion of families separated from the Korean War started on Sunday and ended on 10 a.m. Tuesday with a farewell meeting. There`s no knowing when they can meet again. On the possibility of holding meetings on a regular basis, Lee Choong Bok, vice chairman of North Korea`s Red Cross Society, told reporters Monday, "We need to discuss further on this. The mood is good as for now."

South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, codenamed by Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, started Monday but the family reunion proceeded smoothly. North Korea`s Rodong Sinmun refrained from aggressive reports against South Korea, saying, "South and North Korea should show improvement in relations through actions." The North`s capital city was also in peaceful mood, according to Japan`s Kyodo News sent from Pyongyang.

The South Korean government sent a telephone notice in the name of agricultural and livestock quarantine head to the head of the North`s national animal health committee to provide aid to the North to help contain the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. It suggested that working level meeting be held at the date and place the North wants for detailed discussion. Since the South made the suggestion ahead of the North`s demands, a summit may proceed.

The North reported the World Organization for Animal Health last Wednesday that foot-and-mouth disease broke out on January 8 in Pyongyang and elsewhere, leaving 3,280 pigs infected. Among them, 369 died and 2,911 slaughtered, the North said.