Rival Koreas start talks to reunite families separated by war
- 9 years ago
North and South Korea started talks at a border village Monday on resuming the reunions of family separated by the Korean War in the early 1950s, Seoul officials said.
The talks among the rivals' Red Cross officials at Panmunjom were made possible after they struck a deal earlier this month that eased animosity that saw them threatening war.
The standoff flared after a mine explosion blamed on Pyongyang maimed two South Korean soldiers.
The highly emotional reunions have not happened since early last year.
Most applicants are in their 70s or older and desperate to see their loved ones before they die.
Many Koreans don't even know whether relatives on the other side of the border are still alive because their governments mostly ban the exchange of letters, phone calls or emails.
The planned reunions are not a sure thing.
The rivals have a long history of failing to follow through on reconciliation efforts.
The talks among the rivals' Red Cross officials at Panmunjom were made possible after they struck a deal earlier this month that eased animosity that saw them threatening war.
The standoff flared after a mine explosion blamed on Pyongyang maimed two South Korean soldiers.
The highly emotional reunions have not happened since early last year.
Most applicants are in their 70s or older and desperate to see their loved ones before they die.
Many Koreans don't even know whether relatives on the other side of the border are still alive because their governments mostly ban the exchange of letters, phone calls or emails.
The planned reunions are not a sure thing.
The rivals have a long history of failing to follow through on reconciliation efforts.