North Korea had a change of heart and agreed on Friday to resume a family reunion program proposed by South Korea, the New York Times reports. The program arranges meetings for the millions of Koreans that have been separated by the Korean War, over 60 years ago.
On Jan 9., South Korean President Park Geun-hye suggested that the reinstatement of the reunion program was an important step in rebuilding trust between the two sides. However, the North Korea rejected the proposal stating that “political mood” was not fitting, condemning the joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States.
However on Friday, the North Korean ambassador to the United Nations stated that his country wanted to “mend North-South relations”, while blaming the South for stirring up turmoil recently.
In his New Year’s speech, North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, made it a point to stress that the time has come for South Korea and United States to ease the tension between North Korea.
The agreement to resume the reunion program came just two hours after South Korea rejected Kim’s latest proposal to relieve tensions. The South asked that the North prove their sincerity through “action.”
South Korea quickly welcomed North Korea’s latest act of hospitality, but remained skeptical about the North’s motives. South Korea has pointed to the numerous times in the past where North Korea used its peace offerings to win economic aid without any intention of ending its nuclear program.
Under Park’s leadership, South Korea has lowered their tolerance for the North and have said that North Korea must first make the “efforts” to gain the trust of the South Korea before opening dialogue.
North Korea has left it up to South Korea to choose a date for the family reunions after the upcoming Lunar New Year and the two sides plan to discuss further details in the future.
