Geopolitics
Governance/Geopolitics
North, South Korean families to attend reunion ceremony at Mount Kumgang tourist resort

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 20 Aug 2018, 06:23 am Print

North, South Korean families to attend reunion ceremony at Mount Kumgang tourist resort

Pyongyang/Seoul: Over 160 North and South Koreans are set for an emotional reunion at the heavily guarded Mount Kumgang tourist resort in North Korea on Monday, reports said.

The reunion is happening after three long years, at a time when both the nations are returning towards diplomatic normalcy.

Officials from both North and South Korea had originally chosen 100 candidates, but a few from both sides dropped out after learning that the intended person they wish to visit no longer exists. While North Korea has 83 participants, South Korea has six more.

The oldest among the lot is a 101 year old. This may well be the last visit for some of the visitors, who have stayed away from each other ever since the break out of the Korean War (1950-1953), which separated the two neighbours.

So far, 20 visits have  been organised by both the sides in the last 18 years.

The Korean War reportedly separated millions of people from their families. The worst affected were the ones who fell behind in North Korea, as they were not allowed to leave the country after 1953.

The meeting will take place for three days, albeit for few hours each day for a total of 11 hours.

 

Image: Screengrab from yonhap news agency