Dialogue

Dec. 24 (Asia Today) — Unification Minister Chung Dong-young met separated families ahead of the year-end holidays and said South Korea will seek to resolve humanitarian issues through inter-Korean dialogue, the ministry said Tuesday.

The ministry said Chung visited Kim Bong-hwan, 105, on Tuesday. Kim told Chung he has spent his life hoping to meet younger siblings in North Korea after being separated from his parents and siblings during the Korean War. He asked that authorities at least confirm whether his family members in the North are alive or dead, the ministry said.

Chung said separated families represent one of the deepest tragedies created by the division of the peninsula. With most separated family members elderly, time is short, he said, adding the government will pursue multiple avenues to address humanitarian issues, including inter-Korean dialogue.

The ministry said Chung also delivered New Year’s cards and consolation gifts to 100 elderly separated family members.

It said it plans to continue projects aimed at supporting separated families and expanding the foundation for exchanges, including a Separated Family Day event held annually on the 13th day of the eighth lunar month, invitation events, DNA testing and video letter production.

The ministry said it also visited some families of detainees and abductees during the year-end holiday season.

Families of detainees and abductees said Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-joong and ministry officials met families of detainees to offer support and that schedules were being coordinated for meetings with families of post-war abduction victims.

However, groups representing families of wartime abductees and Korean War prisoners of war said there has been no discussion or coordination so far on meetings with the ministry around the year-end and New Year holidays.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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