President Park Urges Efforts toward Regular Family Reunions

The reunions of families separated by the Korean War last month highlighted the fact that while a select few were granted the opportunity to meet with long-lost loved ones, there are about 71-thousand South Koreans still waiting for the same chance. President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday called for all-out efforts to make sure they get it. Our presidential correspondent Choi You-sun reports. Just days after proposing to North Korea that reunions for war-separated families be held on a regular basis, President Park Geun-hye called for other ways for the family members on both sides of the border to resume contact. "I urge the unification ministry and the Red Cross to negotiate with North Korea, not only about making family reunions a regular event, but to also help the families confirm whether their relatives are dead or alive, and to allow cross-border exchanges of letters and video conference calls." At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, the South Korean leader highlighted the urgency of holding more of the humanitarian events. "So many separated family members on both sides of the border passed away with a feeling of resentment. At least 6-thousand people would need to participate in the reunions each year... for all living family members to reunite with their loved ones." The president's remarks come less than two weeks after the two Koreas held their first reunion event in more than three years. Some 80 family members from each side attended last month's family gatherings. President Park then said the government's new preparatory committee for reunification should initially listen to public opinion on the issue and draw up a blueprint in an open and transparent way. Choi You-sun, Arirang News.