Post date: Aug 24, 2013 10:5:13 AM
North and South Korea agree to resume reunions of families separated by the Korean War in September.
PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA (AUGUST 24, 2013) (KRT) - North and South Korea agreed on Friday (August 23) to resume reunions of families separated by the Korean War in September at Mount Kumgang resort in the North.
The decision came after officials from the two sides met for talks about the separated family reunion in the truce village of Panmunjom during the day.On Saturday (August 24), North Korean state-run television KRT announced the decision and that the reunions would take place from September 25-30.
"North and South Korea has agreed to proceed with the reunions of the separated families from September 25 to 30 at the Mount Kumgang. Both sides will bring 100 people each," the news reader said.
KRT also broadcast pictures of both sides signing the documents.
"The South and North agreed to fundamentally solve the separated family problems by making continued efforts such as regularisation of the separated family reunions, confirmation of life and death as well as the exchange of letters," the KRT news reader added.
North Korea and South Korea are technically still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
The North and South agreed last week to reopen a jointly-run industrial complex inside the North, which was abruptly closed in April at the height of tensions, when the North threatened to launch a nuclear attack on the South and on the United States.
There have been no family reunions for nearly three years, with grieving family members falling in number due to old age.
Previous reunions have been largely token and highly choreographed.