North-South family reunions held amid tensions surrounding missile test

About 400 families expected to attend

Amid escalating tensions caused by North Korea’s apparent plan to test launch a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, the two Koreas on June 19 started a special round of separated family reunions. The reunions coincide with the sixth anniversary of the June 15 Joint Declaration between the two countries.

Four hundred families each from the South and the North will join the 14th round of family reunions at the North’s Mt. Kumgang resort. Participants will be divided into four groups, and each group will be able to meet with their separated families for two nights and three days. The first group (June 19-21) and third group (June 25-27) each include 100 North Korean individuals and their South Korean family members, while the second (June 22-24) and fourth (June 28-30) groups each include 100 South Koreans and their family members residing in the North.

Among the first group of South Koreans was Park Jae-yeong, 64, the second son of the late Park Tae-won (1909-1986), a renowned novelist. Park Jae-yeong was able to meet his elder sister Seol-yeong after 56 years of separation. They were separated from each other when Jae-yeong was in elementary school.