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| Korean families in rare reunion | Korean families in rare reunion |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A group of elderly South Koreans has made a rare journey across the heavily fortified border to visit long-lost relatives in the communist North. | |
| Two hundred families were chosen to take part in the reunions after more than half a century of separation since the Korean civil war. | Two hundred families were chosen to take part in the reunions after more than half a century of separation since the Korean civil war. |
| The two Koreas began reunions in 2000, but the programme was suspended two years ago because of political tension. | The two Koreas began reunions in 2000, but the programme was suspended two years ago because of political tension. |
| The resumption is being seen as a sign of a possible thaw in relations. | The resumption is being seen as a sign of a possible thaw in relations. |
| There has been no phone or even postal contact between North and South since the end of the Korean war in 1953. | There has been no phone or even postal contact between North and South since the end of the Korean war in 1953. |
| Joy and sorrow | |
| On Saturday, a group of 97 South Koreans drove across the border to meet their relatives at the Mount Kumgang resort in North Korea. | |
| I can die after visiting the North with no regrets South Korean widow Lee Sun-ok, 80 Emotions high as families reunite | I can die after visiting the North with no regrets South Korean widow Lee Sun-ok, 80 Emotions high as families reunite |
| The reunion was an outpouring of joy and relief but also sorrow. | |
| Kim Yu-jum, aged 100, was separated from her 16-year-old daughter in the chaos of war and they ended up on separate side of the frontline. | |
| "For the past half-century I've never forgotten her. Every day I though of her," she told the BBC. | |
| Widow Lee Sun-ok, 80, travelled to North Korea to meet two younger sisters and one younger brother for the first time in 60 years. | |
| "I never thought I could see them again," she told the Associated Press. "I can die after visiting the North with no regrets." | "I never thought I could see them again," she told the Associated Press. "I can die after visiting the North with no regrets." |
| The BBC's John Sudworth, in Seoul, say that with many relatives in their 80s and 90s, it is likely to be their only chance to see their families. | |
| The six-day reunion event is being organised by the Unification Ministry which handles inter-Korean affairs. | |
| Reunions were last held in October 2007. | Reunions were last held in October 2007. |
| North Korea agreed last month to resume them as part of a slight easing of tensions with South Korea and the US over its nuclear and missile programmes. | North Korea agreed last month to resume them as part of a slight easing of tensions with South Korea and the US over its nuclear and missile programmes. |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Have you got long-lost relatives? Send us your stories using the form below. | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Have you got long-lost relatives? Send us your stories using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |