So much for reviving the family reunion program between North and South Korea.
The North rejected South Korea’s proposal Thursday to continue the humanitarian program that reconnects families separated by the Korean War from six decades ago, the New York Times reported.
The two Koreas held the reunions, which had stalled since 2010, late last month, but couldn’t ease the strained inter-Korea relations as the North launched short-range missiles into the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan only a day after the reunions while South Korea and the U.S. held annual military drills. The missiles reportedly flew in the area of a Chinese passenger plane departing from Tokyo to Shenyang, China at the same time.
[ad#336]
North Korea dismissed South Korea’s request to arrange additional family reunions in the future, saying the “circumstance and mood” aren’t appropriate to hold such discussions.
There isn’t much time left for separated Korean families to meet their long-lost relatives as most of them are now in their 70s, 80s and beyond.
South Koreans President Park Geun-hye said reunions could potentially help ease tensions between the two Koreas during a speech last Saturday.
[ad#336]
