Fourth Estate Staff
Seoul, SK, South Korea (4E) – North and South Korea has started to talk about resuming reunions of families that have been separated by war due to the Korean War in the 1950s .
Officials from Seoul said that the talks were able to push through after tension rose between South and North Korea last month. South Korea felt threatened by North Korea noting that the latter was starting another war after a mine explosion was blamed on Pyongyang that has resulted to hurting two South Korean soldiers.
The reunions have not happened since early last year and most of the applicants who want this to happen are already in their 70s or older. They are reportedly desperate to see their families from South Korea before they die. Many of these Koreans are not aware if their family and relatives on the other side of the border are still alive since exchange of letters, phone calls, or emails are banned by both South and North Korean governments.
However, analysts are saying that the reunions are still far from happening as North Korea might fire their satellite as they will celebrate the 70th birthday of its ruling party next month. Such launches in the past have triggered a standoff between South and North Korea.
Around 22,500 Koreans have participated in these family reunions. 18,800 of them had the chance to do it in person while the rest are via video. None of them were given another chance to meet their family and relatives after the first meeting.
South Korean officials have been calling for these reunions more regularly but North Korea is worried about this as it would open the country’s people to be influenced by the more affluent South Korea. North Korean fears that this will threaten the ruling party’s power over its people.
North and South Korea have been divided since 1953.
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