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Let's start with the latest development in the seemingly thawing relations
between the two Koreas... Amid the more amicable atmosphere,... South
Korea has proposed dates
for resuming long-suspended reunions for families separated since the
Korean War. While that seems all well and good, North
Korea's reaction to upcoming
joint military drills between Seoul and Washington could throw a spanner in
the works. Hwang Sung-hee reports. Families separated
since the Korean War will
have the chance to see each other again in mid-February... if North Korea
agrees to the South's offer. Seoul's Unification Ministry said it made
the proposal through the inter-
Korean hotline on Monday morning.
"Considering the wishes of the separated families, we proposed holding a
round of family reunions at Mount Kumgangsan from February 17th to the
22nd, for six days."
The ministry also offered to hold working-level talks on Wednesday at the
North Korean side of the truce village of Panmunjom to fine-tune the details
of the event. The North took many by surprise with its sudden
proposal last Friday that
the reunions resume at a convenient time for South Korea after the Lunar
New Year holiday, which falls at the end of this week.
If the event takes place next month, 1-hundred divided family members
from each side will be reunited. Millions of Koreans were separated from their
loved ones when the
country was divided more than six decades ago.
Around 72-thousand South Koreans are on the waiting list for a chance to
meet their families one last time, although time is running out for the very
elderly relatives. Despite the friendlier tone in recent weeks,
preparations for the event may
run into some problems due to the upcoming joint military drills between
South Korea and the United States. The South Korean government has made clear
the drills will take place as
scheduled, starting at the end of February, despite North Korea's repeated
calls to cancel what it views as war games. This year's training, however, will not involve
U.S. aircraft carriers or
strategic bombers. Seoul is expected to notify its neighbors,
including Pyongyang, of the
schedule and purpose of the exercises after the Lunar New Year holiday.
Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News.