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| Korean families in rare reunion | Korean families in rare reunion |
| (about 1 hour 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | The reunion was an outpouring of joy and relief but also sorrow. |
| Kim Yu-jum, now aged 100, was separated from her 16-year-old daughter in the chaos of war and they ended up on separate sides of the front line. | |
| "For the past half-century I've never forgotten her. Every day I though of her," she told the BBC. | "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. | 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 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. | 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. |