The second of two reunions for family members separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War concluded Sunday at a North Korean resort.
Over 300 South Koreans from 81 families headed home by bus from Mt. Kumgang after three days of meetings with their North Korean relatives. The first round of reunions was held from Monday to Wednesday at the same location.
In the latest reunion, separated family members were seen exchanging addresses, but except for rare exceptions their governments prohibit the exchange of letters and phone calls.
[Pool photo]
The two Koreas' Red Cross chiefs agreed Saturday to hold another family reunion event as early as October, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The two Koreas agreed to resume the family reunions, which were last held in 2015, at the summit between their leaders in April.
Data provided by the South Korean Unification Ministry show that of those registered as members of separated families in the South, 56,890 were alive at the end of May, with some 60 percent aged 80 or above.
[Pool photo]
South Korean media pointed out that it will take 500 years or more for everyone to meet again if the reunions proceed at the current pace.
South Korean President Moon Jae In said Monday that turning the temporary reunions into a regular event should be the top-priority task for the two Koreas to work together on.
[Pool photo]
