Koreas discuss reunions for war-separated families
Arab News, June 22, 2018
North and
South Korea on Friday held Red Cross talks to discuss resuming reunions for
families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, the latest step in the diplomatic
thaw on the peninsula.
South Korea on Friday held Red Cross talks to discuss resuming reunions for
families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, the latest step in the diplomatic
thaw on the peninsula.
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| Only about 57,000 people registered with the South Korean Red Cross to meet their separated relatives remain alive. Above, a Red Cross official speaks on the phone as she receives applications for an expected inter-Korean family reunion program. (AFP) |
Millions
of people were separated during the conflict that sealed the division between
the two Koreas nearly 70 years ago.
Most died
without having a chance to see or hear from their relatives on the other side
of the border, across which all civilian communication is banned.
without having a chance to see or hear from their relatives on the other side
of the border, across which all civilian communication is banned.
The
resumption of the family reunions — last held in 2015 — was one of the
agreements reached between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South’s
president Moon Jae-in at their landmark summit in April.
resumption of the family reunions — last held in 2015 — was one of the
agreements reached between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South’s
president Moon Jae-in at their landmark summit in April.
Only
about 57,000 people registered with the South Korean Red Cross to meet their
separated relatives remain alive, most of them aged over 70.
about 57,000 people registered with the South Korean Red Cross to meet their
separated relatives remain alive, most of them aged over 70.
Even if
reunions are arranged, only 100 participants from each side will be selected.
reunions are arranged, only 100 participants from each side will be selected.
For the
lucky few chosen to take part, the experience is often hugely emotional, as
they are given only three days to make up for decades of time apart, followed
by another separation at the end, in all likelihood permanent.
lucky few chosen to take part, the experience is often hugely emotional, as
they are given only three days to make up for decades of time apart, followed
by another separation at the end, in all likelihood permanent.
“Let’s
make the meeting a success by conducting it from a humanitarian perspective,”
said the South’s chief delegate Park Kyung-seo, as he began discussions at
North Korea’s scenic Mount Kumgang resort.
make the meeting a success by conducting it from a humanitarian perspective,”
said the South’s chief delegate Park Kyung-seo, as he began discussions at
North Korea’s scenic Mount Kumgang resort.
Pak Yong
Il, Pyongyang’s chief delegate, responded: “The fact that the North and South
are holding the first Red Cross talks in our famous Mount Kumgang is meaningful
in itself.”
Il, Pyongyang’s chief delegate, responded: “The fact that the North and South
are holding the first Red Cross talks in our famous Mount Kumgang is meaningful
in itself.”
The
reunion program began in earnest after a historic inter-Korean summit in 2000
and they were initially held annually, but strained cross-border relations have
made them rare.
reunion program began in earnest after a historic inter-Korean summit in 2000
and they were initially held annually, but strained cross-border relations have
made them rare.
Pyongyang
has a lengthy track record of manipulating the divided families’ issue for
political purposes, refusing proposals for regular reunions and canceling
scheduled events at the last minute.
has a lengthy track record of manipulating the divided families’ issue for
political purposes, refusing proposals for regular reunions and canceling
scheduled events at the last minute.
North
Korea has previously demanded it will not agree to family reunions unless Seoul
returns several of its citizens, including a group of waitresses who defected
from a restaurant in China.
Korea has previously demanded it will not agree to family reunions unless Seoul
returns several of its citizens, including a group of waitresses who defected
from a restaurant in China.
