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We start with the very welcome news that the two Koreas finally have reached an agreement
on a new round of reunions for families separated since the Korean War.
While everyone agrees this is a step in the right direction, the question now is whether
the much-anticipated humanitarian event can serve as a starting point for rosier inter-Korean
ties. Hwang Sung-hee has the details.
Will the resumption of reunions for divided families pave the way for improved relations
between the two Koreas? South Korean President Park Geun-hye expressed
her hopes via her spokesperson on Thursday that the humanitarian event could open up
a new era of inter-Korean relations.
"We hope the upcoming reunions will be a starting point for improved inter-Korean relations
and serve as a foundation for opening up an era of reunification, bringing peace and cooperation
to the Korean peninsula."
Wednesday's agreement to resume family reunions from February 20th to the 25th came as a surprise
to many as it was reached in less than five hours of talks.
What's more surprising is that the dates overlap with South Korea's joint military drills with
Washington. North Korea had earlier warned the reunions
could not take place amid gunfire, but the upcoming drills were not a major issue during
the talks.
"There was no specific mention by North Korea of the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills
nor a call for the military exercises to be canceled."
South Korea said it views the latest agreement as a positive sign.
Pyongyang has been cranking up its peace offensive this year, although many have questioned the
regime's motives. The Koreas left open the possibility of further
cooperation, promising additional rounds of talks after the reunions to discuss a wide
range of humanitarian issues, that could include South Korean food aid to the North.
But despite the friendlier tone, an air of skepticism lingers as North Korea has a history
of breaking its promises, including its last-minute cancellation of a round of family reunions
just last year. Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News.