South Korean Officials Prepare For Reunions Of Families Separated By Korean War Amid North Korea’s Reported Plan To Launch Long-Range Rocket
South Korea continues to prepare planned reunion of families separated by Korean War in 1950-53 amid North Korea's reported plan to launch long-range rocket and conduct nuclear tests.
The New York Times forecasted September 14 that officials and analysts speculate a long-range rocket with satellite will be launched on October 10 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Workers' Party.
"Unlike the issue of economic or food aid, the Seoul government will be able to carry on with the family reunions even in the face of a North Korean provocation without worrying about losing public support," says Koh Yu Hwan, expert on North Korea affairs at Dongguk University in Seoul.
"However, since the reunions will be held in North Korea, they could be threatened by escalated military tension along the border, which might follow a rocket launch," he adds, as noted by The Associated Press Saturday.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people from the North and South will be allowed to reunite with their families on October 20-26 at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort. This follows the agreement reached by the two Koreas early this month to continue reunions between family members displaced by the war.
According to South Korean officials who inspected the venue this month, the Diamond Mountain resort is "good enough to hold the meetings," as per South Korea's Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon Hee.
"There were some parts that needed fixing and refurbishment and we plan to set up a date with the North as quickly as possible to get those jobs done," says Jeong.
The last family reunion happened on February 2014, where 200 North and South Koreans gathered for the six-day event that was also held at a mountain resort in North Korea.
