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North and South Korea Set Dates for Family Reunions North and South Korea Set Dates for Family Reunions
(about 9 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — North and South Korea agreed on Wednesday to hold family reunions later this month in which hundreds of elderly relatives separated by the Korean War would meet for the first time in six decades.SEOUL, South Korea — North and South Korea agreed on Wednesday to hold family reunions later this month in which hundreds of elderly relatives separated by the Korean War would meet for the first time in six decades.
Under the deal, struck during Red Cross talks on their border on Wednesday, the two Koreas agreed to hold the family reunions from Feb. 20 to 25 at the Diamond Mountain resort in southeast North Korea, a sign that hostile ties between the two countries may be warming. Under the deal, struck during Red Cross talks on their border on Wednesday, the two Koreas agreed to hold the family reunions Feb. 20-25 at the Diamond Mountain resort in southeast North Korea, a sign that hostile ties between the two countries may be warming.
The two Koreas held their last family reunions in 2010, when the humanitarian program was halted amid souring relations. The revival of the reunions suggested that the rival governments were edging toward improving relations following military tensions incited by the North’s nuclear test in February last year and the more recent political uncertainty in Pyongyang in the wake of the purge and execution of Jang Song-thaek, the North’s No. 2 official. The Koreas held their last family reunions in 2010, when the humanitarian program was halted amid souring relations. The revival of the reunions suggested that the rival governments were edging toward improving relations after military tensions incited by the North’s nuclear test in February last year and the more recent political uncertainty in Pyongyang in the wake of the purge and execution of Jang Song-thaek, the North’s No. 2 official.
Mr. Jang, the uncle and longtime mentor of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, was executed in December for what Pyongyang said was a plot to overthrow his nephew’s government.Mr. Jang, the uncle and longtime mentor of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, was executed in December for what Pyongyang said was a plot to overthrow his nephew’s government.
Despite the internal political upheaval, Mr. Kim called for improved relations on the divided Korean Peninsula during his New Year’s Day speech. In her response on Jan. 6, President Park Geun-hye of South Korea urged Pyongyang to prove its sincerity through “action,” suggesting that if North Korea agreed to family reunions, her government would increase humanitarian aid shipments for the North.Despite the internal political upheaval, Mr. Kim called for improved relations on the divided Korean Peninsula during his New Year’s Day speech. In her response on Jan. 6, President Park Geun-hye of South Korea urged Pyongyang to prove its sincerity through “action,” suggesting that if North Korea agreed to family reunions, her government would increase humanitarian aid shipments for the North.
“We hope that today’s agreement will be implemented without a hitch and help ease the pain and anguish of separated families,” the Unification Ministry of the South said in a statement on Wednesday. South Korea plans to send an advance team of officials to the Diamond Mountain resort later this week to check on facilities there where elderly Koreans will be staying during their temporary reunions. “We hope that today’s agreement will be implemented without a hitch and help ease the pain and anguish of separated families,” the Unification Ministry of the South said in a statement on Wednesday. South Korea plans to send an advance team of officials to the Diamond Mountain resort this week to check on facilities there where elderly Koreans will be staying during their temporary reunions.
The Hyundai conglomerate of South Korea built a resort around the scenic North Korean mountain and took South Korean tourists there until 2008, when Seoul suspended the program to protest the killing of a South Korean tourist by North Korean soldiers.The Hyundai conglomerate of South Korea built a resort around the scenic North Korean mountain and took South Korean tourists there until 2008, when Seoul suspended the program to protest the killing of a South Korean tourist by North Korean soldiers.
Family reunions remain a highly emotional issue for Koreans and have been an important barometer for relations on the divided peninsula.Family reunions remain a highly emotional issue for Koreans and have been an important barometer for relations on the divided peninsula.
The two Koreas remain technically at war after the three-year Korean War ended in a truce, leaving millions of people separated from their relatives across the most heavily armed border in the world. No telephone, letter and email exchanges are allowed between the citizens of the two countries. And for the so-called separated families, the occasional government-arranged reunions are virtually their only chance to meet their long-lost relatives. The Koreas remain technically at war after the three-year Korean War ended in a truce, leaving millions of people separated from their relatives across the most heavily armed border in the world. No telephone, letter and email exchanges are allowed between the citizens of the two countries. And for the so-called separated families, the occasional government-arranged reunions are virtually the only chance to meet long-lost relatives.
The two governments arranged 18 rounds of such reunions between 1985 and 2010, allowing 22,000 Koreans to meet their parents, siblings or other relatives for the first time since the war. About 73,000 South Koreans, half of them older than 80, remain on the waiting list of the Red Cross, which uses a lottery to pick participants.The two governments arranged 18 rounds of such reunions between 1985 and 2010, allowing 22,000 Koreans to meet their parents, siblings or other relatives for the first time since the war. About 73,000 South Koreans, half of them older than 80, remain on the waiting list of the Red Cross, which uses a lottery to pick participants.
In the reunions planned for this month, 100 people from each Korea will be allowed to meet hundreds of relatives from the other side.In the reunions planned for this month, 100 people from each Korea will be allowed to meet hundreds of relatives from the other side.
In recent weeks, North Korea has repeated a desire to improve relations with the South. But Seoul and Washington feared that the North’s latest charm offensive might be a deceptive prelude to a new round of military provocations.In recent weeks, North Korea has repeated a desire to improve relations with the South. But Seoul and Washington feared that the North’s latest charm offensive might be a deceptive prelude to a new round of military provocations.
The planned reunions come shortly before the annual joint war games that South Korea and the United States are scheduled to begin in late February. North Korea has blamed the drills for raising tensions, but Washington and Seoul said they would press ahead, calling their military maneuvers defensive exercises.The planned reunions come shortly before the annual joint war games that South Korea and the United States are scheduled to begin in late February. North Korea has blamed the drills for raising tensions, but Washington and Seoul said they would press ahead, calling their military maneuvers defensive exercises.