SEOUL/SOKCHO: Some 180 families torn aside by means of the 1950-53 Korean War will be quickly reunited in North Korea beginning Monday after the 2 Koreas renewed exchanges this year following a standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.
The reunions, the primary in 3 years, will take place in the North's tourist lodge on Mount Kumgang, as agreed by means of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during their first summit in April.
The separated families are sufferers of a decades-long standoff between the neighbours, which has escalated over the last several years as Pyongyang unexpectedly complex its nuclear guns and missile programmes.
More than 57,000 South Korean survivors have registered for a short lived circle of relatives reunion, which lasts most effective 11 hours and ceaselessly results in painful farewells.
"I'm over 90 so I don't know when I am going to die. I am very glad that I have been selected this time, I'm walking on air now," 91-year-old Moon Hyun-sook advised Reuters on Sunday, a day ahead of meeting her younger sisters in North Korea.
For years, Seoul has been calling for normal meetings between separated families including using video meetings, however the reunion programmes ceaselessly fell sufferer to fragile family members with Pyongyang.
During his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in June, Kim pledged to abandon his country's nuclear programmes if Washington equipped security promises, however the two aspects have since struggled to agree on how to succeed in that goal.
South Korean family members arrived at the coastal border city of Sokcho on Sunday to be briefed by means of officers at the reunion and for a short lived health check-up, ahead of crossing the border on Monday.
Ninety-three families from all sides of the border had been to begin with scheduled for a three-day amassing from Monday, however 4 South Korean members cancelled their commute to the North at the ultimate minute due to health stipulations, the Red Cross stated.
Starting Thursday, there will be a meeting of some other 88 teams of family, in step with Seoul's Unification Ministry.
The brief circle of relatives reunions, which began in 1985, is usually a worrying enjoy for the growing older survivors, they say. And time is working out, with a lot of them aged 80 or older.
Around 132,600 people are indexed as separated families as of end-July. Of the 57,000 survivors, 41.2 percent are in their 80s and 21.four percent are in their 90s, in step with govt data.
The oldest South Korean collaborating in the most recent amassing is 101 years previous.
"Most participants are elderly and many of them are suffering from hypertension, diabetes and have underlying medical conditions. Ahead of the reunions, we are thoroughly checking their health conditions so that they can attend the events as planned," stated physician Han Sang-jo.
Many of the family members introduced gifts for his or her North Korean family. Socks, undies, elementary wintry weather jackets, medicine, toothpastes and food are the most typical pieces, with gifts deemed too extravagant not going to cross muster with Pyongyang authorities.
"I've prepared for him some household medicine including digester and headache pills, nutritional supplements as well as some daily necessaries," stated Lee Soo-nam, a 76-year-old South Korean, due to meet his older brother in the North separated by means of the war.
"He is very old so I really want to express my gratitude for being alive for a long time."
The reunions, the primary in 3 years, will take place in the North's tourist lodge on Mount Kumgang, as agreed by means of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in during their first summit in April.
The separated families are sufferers of a decades-long standoff between the neighbours, which has escalated over the last several years as Pyongyang unexpectedly complex its nuclear guns and missile programmes.
More than 57,000 South Korean survivors have registered for a short lived circle of relatives reunion, which lasts most effective 11 hours and ceaselessly results in painful farewells.
"I'm over 90 so I don't know when I am going to die. I am very glad that I have been selected this time, I'm walking on air now," 91-year-old Moon Hyun-sook advised Reuters on Sunday, a day ahead of meeting her younger sisters in North Korea.
For years, Seoul has been calling for normal meetings between separated families including using video meetings, however the reunion programmes ceaselessly fell sufferer to fragile family members with Pyongyang.
During his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in June, Kim pledged to abandon his country's nuclear programmes if Washington equipped security promises, however the two aspects have since struggled to agree on how to succeed in that goal.
South Korean family members arrived at the coastal border city of Sokcho on Sunday to be briefed by means of officers at the reunion and for a short lived health check-up, ahead of crossing the border on Monday.
Ninety-three families from all sides of the border had been to begin with scheduled for a three-day amassing from Monday, however 4 South Korean members cancelled their commute to the North at the ultimate minute due to health stipulations, the Red Cross stated.
Starting Thursday, there will be a meeting of some other 88 teams of family, in step with Seoul's Unification Ministry.
The brief circle of relatives reunions, which began in 1985, is usually a worrying enjoy for the growing older survivors, they say. And time is working out, with a lot of them aged 80 or older.
Around 132,600 people are indexed as separated families as of end-July. Of the 57,000 survivors, 41.2 percent are in their 80s and 21.four percent are in their 90s, in step with govt data.
The oldest South Korean collaborating in the most recent amassing is 101 years previous.
"Most participants are elderly and many of them are suffering from hypertension, diabetes and have underlying medical conditions. Ahead of the reunions, we are thoroughly checking their health conditions so that they can attend the events as planned," stated physician Han Sang-jo.
Many of the family members introduced gifts for his or her North Korean family. Socks, undies, elementary wintry weather jackets, medicine, toothpastes and food are the most typical pieces, with gifts deemed too extravagant not going to cross muster with Pyongyang authorities.
"I've prepared for him some household medicine including digester and headache pills, nutritional supplements as well as some daily necessaries," stated Lee Soo-nam, a 76-year-old South Korean, due to meet his older brother in the North separated by means of the war.
"He is very old so I really want to express my gratitude for being alive for a long time."
Korean families separated by war to reunite briefly after 65 years
![Korean families separated by war to reunite briefly after 65 years]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
August 20, 2018
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