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Korea family talks set to resume Korean family reunion talks begin
(about 4 hours later)
Red Cross officials from South Korea have crossed into the North for talks which could allow families divided by the border to begin meeting again. Red Cross officials from North and South Korea have begun talks aimed at allowing families divided by the border to begin meeting again.
The reunions have been suspended for almost two years, because of the worsening ties between the two nations. The reunions have been suspended for almost two years because of worsening ties between the two nations.
This new round of negotiations reflects a recent improvement in relations between the two sides. This new round of negotiations reflects a recent improvement in relations between the two sides, and reunions could now resume as early as October.
If the three-day talks are successful, family meetings could resume as early as October. About 100,000 families were separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says that for hundreds of thousands of Koreans, separated from their relatives by war in the 1950s, time is running out. The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says that for hundreds of thousands of them, time is running out.
The North and South are still technically at war, as a peace treaty was never concluded at the end the inter-Korean conflict. The North and South are still technically at war, as a peace treaty was never concluded at the end of the inter-Korean conflict.
There are still no exchanges by post, telephone or e-mail between people living across the heavily fortified border.
Limited numbersLimited numbers
The talks are being held in the North Korean resort of Mount Kumgang. The three-day official talks are being held in the North Korean resort of Diamond Mountain (Mount Kumgang).
"Since it is a meeting being held after a year and nine months, the main topic is the dispersed family issue," chief South Korean delegate Kim Young-chol said.
Thousands of families were separated by the 1950-53 warThousands of families were separated by the 1950-53 war
Even if talks are successful, it is likely that only a fraction of those families on the waiting list will be able to see their relatives in the highly emotional but all-too-brief meetings, our correspondent says. "Since it is a meeting being held after a year and nine months, the main topic is the dispersed family issue," chief South Korean delegate Kim Young-chol said.
Only about 100 families from the 100,000 or so searching for their relatives are likely to be involved. Even if talks are successful, it is likely that only a fraction of those families on the waiting list will be able to see their relatives in the highly emotional but all-too-brief meetings, our correspondent says. Only about 100 families are likely to be involved.
In the early part of the decade about 16,000 families were briefly reunited. In the early part of the decade, the two countries regularly held Red Cross talks to discuss family reunions and other humanitarian issues. About 16,000 families were briefly reunited.
The countries regularly held Red Cross talks to discuss family reunions and other humanitarian issues until late 2007. However the reunions were stopped after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office in February 2008, amid North Korean anger at his policy of ending unconditional aid handouts.
However the reunions were stopped after South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office in February 2008 amid North Korean anger at his policy of ending unconditional aid handouts.
He has tied a resumption of aid to progress on North Korean nuclear disarmament.He has tied a resumption of aid to progress on North Korean nuclear disarmament.
But in recent weeks, tensions have thawed slightly between the two neighbours. Earlier this year, relations between North Korea and the rest of the world were extremely strained. It was heavily criticised in May for conducting its second nuclear test and a series of ballistic missile launches.
Last week, Northern officials attended the funeral of South Korea's ex-President Kim Dae-jung. But the agreement to hold the Red Cross talks is just one of a series of conciliatory gestures by North Korea in recent weeks.
US former President Bill Clinton also had talks in the North, where he secured the release of two American journalists. Last week, Northern officials attended the funeral of South Korea's former President Kim Dae-jung.
North Korea also announced this month it will ease restrictions on cross-border traffic imposed last year amid the rising tension. Former US President Bill Clinton also visited the North recently, and secured the release of two American journalists detained there.
North Korea also announced this month that it would ease restrictions on cross-border traffic imposed last year amid the rising tension.