World Notes THE KOREAS

Early last week everything seemed set for a five-member North Korean delegation to cross the border and meet with a South Korean dissident organization to plan a historic pan-national rally for Aug. 15, the 45th anniversary of liberation from Japan. But when the five arrived at the border, they first refused to accept South Korea's choice of a hotel and then insisted that the dissidents rather than government representatives escort them at the meeting. At that Seoul balked. After two days of arguing, the North Koreans returned home.

The stubbornness on both sides cast doubt on whether another, more important meeting would take place. The Prime Ministers of North and South Korea are scheduled to meet Sept. 4-7 in Seoul. It would be the highest-ranking contact between the two countries in 42 years. But during preparatory talks last week, North Korean officials warned that if agreement is not reached on the rally, ^ plans for the September meeting would be "gravely affected."