The reunions will take place around August 15 when both countries mark the liberation of Korea from Japanese occupation. Delegations of the Red Cross already held talks on the ways of the reunions. Tough questions must also be answered about South Korea's ability to bear the costs for reunification with the North, where living standards are about 10 times lower. Guesses based on the German unification put the costs at 1 trillion dollars. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm is still great.
Plans go even further into future.
The Football association of South Korea would like to see a joint team when Seoul co-hosts the World Cup 2002 finals with Tokyo. Of course, Coca-Cola sponsors South Korea's national football team. The company is already considering the option of sponsoring the players from the north as well. On the other side of the world Mexico headed for a monumental shift in power after voters blew out the country's long-ruling party. Once a revolutionary force, PRI ended in scandals and corruption that were ruining the economy of the impoverished state.