ID :
81733
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 22:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/81733
The shortlink copeid
Separated families gather in Sokcho on eve of reunion trip to N. Korea
SOKCHO, South Korea, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- Nearly a hundred elderly South Koreans
gathered in this coastal border town Friday as they prepared to meet with
long-lost relatives in North Korea the following day.
The Koreas have arranged to hold reunions for families separated by the 1950-53
Korean War at the North's Mount Kumgang resort from Saturday through Thursday,
the first such event in nearly two years.
Out of the 100 South Korean people selected for the reunions, four were unable to
come here because of their frail health, according to the National Red Cross of
South Korea, which set up the reunions with its North Korean counterpart. More
than three-quarters of the participants are 70 or older.
Kim Yeong-ja, 83, a native of South Hamgyong Province in the North's northern
region, was full of anticipation, thinking of her first reunion with her
surviving younger sisters since the war. She had brought dozens of winter clothes
and bagfuls of medicine for them, but still feels it's not sufficient.
"They must have thought I was dead," Kim said. "I prepared as much as I could."
The separated families will depart for the North Korean mountain resort on the
east coast Saturday morning, about an hour's drive from Sokcho, located about
200km east of Seoul. About 30 of them, who are too old and frail to walk alone,
were allowed to be accompanied by one family member each.
The reunions are being held in two separate events. During the first three days,
the South Koreans will be reunited with their 240 relatives in the North who were
found to be still alive and able to travel. In the second segment of the event,
99 North Koreans will be reunited with 449 relatives living in the South.
South Korean Red Cross President Yoo Chong-ha will travel to the North with the
South Korean families, his office said, and a meeting with his North Korean
counterpart Jang Jae-on is expected.
About 600,000 people in the South are believed to have family in the North from
whom they have been separated since the 1950-53 war. Candidates were first
selected through a computer lottery, with the final lists being drawn from
applicants whose relatives were located, giving priority to immediate family
members and the elderly.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
gathered in this coastal border town Friday as they prepared to meet with
long-lost relatives in North Korea the following day.
The Koreas have arranged to hold reunions for families separated by the 1950-53
Korean War at the North's Mount Kumgang resort from Saturday through Thursday,
the first such event in nearly two years.
Out of the 100 South Korean people selected for the reunions, four were unable to
come here because of their frail health, according to the National Red Cross of
South Korea, which set up the reunions with its North Korean counterpart. More
than three-quarters of the participants are 70 or older.
Kim Yeong-ja, 83, a native of South Hamgyong Province in the North's northern
region, was full of anticipation, thinking of her first reunion with her
surviving younger sisters since the war. She had brought dozens of winter clothes
and bagfuls of medicine for them, but still feels it's not sufficient.
"They must have thought I was dead," Kim said. "I prepared as much as I could."
The separated families will depart for the North Korean mountain resort on the
east coast Saturday morning, about an hour's drive from Sokcho, located about
200km east of Seoul. About 30 of them, who are too old and frail to walk alone,
were allowed to be accompanied by one family member each.
The reunions are being held in two separate events. During the first three days,
the South Koreans will be reunited with their 240 relatives in the North who were
found to be still alive and able to travel. In the second segment of the event,
99 North Koreans will be reunited with 449 relatives living in the South.
South Korean Red Cross President Yoo Chong-ha will travel to the North with the
South Korean families, his office said, and a meeting with his North Korean
counterpart Jang Jae-on is expected.
About 600,000 people in the South are believed to have family in the North from
whom they have been separated since the 1950-53 war. Candidates were first
selected through a computer lottery, with the final lists being drawn from
applicants whose relatives were located, giving priority to immediate family
members and the elderly.
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
