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In U-Turn, North Korea Agrees to Family Reunions In U-Turn, North Korea Agrees to Family Reunions
(about 3 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Reversing its earlier stance, North Korea on Friday agreed to a South Korean proposal to resume a long-suspended humanitarian program of arranging reunions of elderly relatives separated by the Korean War six decades ago.SEOUL, South Korea — Reversing its earlier stance, North Korea on Friday agreed to a South Korean proposal to resume a long-suspended humanitarian program of arranging reunions of elderly relatives separated by the Korean War six decades ago.
President Park Geun-hye of South Korea raised the idea during a news conference on Jan. 6, suggesting that the reunions would be an important first step toward building trust and improving relations on the divided Korean Peninsula.President Park Geun-hye of South Korea raised the idea during a news conference on Jan. 6, suggesting that the reunions would be an important first step toward building trust and improving relations on the divided Korean Peninsula.
As recently as Jan. 9, North Korea rejected her overture. It said the political mood was not right for it, citing, among other things, the joint military exercises South Korea plans to hold with the United States from late February through April.As recently as Jan. 9, North Korea rejected her overture. It said the political mood was not right for it, citing, among other things, the joint military exercises South Korea plans to hold with the United States from late February through April.
On Friday, however, North Korea suggested that the two Koreas hold a new round of reunions in the tourist resort at Diamond Mountain in southeast North Korea, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. It left it to the South to choose a date for the reunions “when the weather thaws.”On Friday, however, North Korea suggested that the two Koreas hold a new round of reunions in the tourist resort at Diamond Mountain in southeast North Korea, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. It left it to the South to choose a date for the reunions “when the weather thaws.”
In response, the South’s Unification Ministry said in a statement: “Our government welcomes that North Korea accepted our proposal to hold the family reunions though belatedly.” Both Koreas said they would hold talks to sort out details.In response, the South’s Unification Ministry said in a statement: “Our government welcomes that North Korea accepted our proposal to hold the family reunions though belatedly.” Both Koreas said they would hold talks to sort out details.
Millions of Koreans were separated from relatives when Korea was divided into the Communist North and the pro-American South at the end of World War II in 1945. The subsequent Korean War, which began in 1950, ended in 1953 in a cease-fire with the peninsula still divided.Millions of Koreans were separated from relatives when Korea was divided into the Communist North and the pro-American South at the end of World War II in 1945. The subsequent Korean War, which began in 1950, ended in 1953 in a cease-fire with the peninsula still divided.
Since then, no exchanges of letters, telephone calls or emails have been allowed between North and South Koreans. Family reunions remain a highly emotional issue and a barometer of the status of relations on the peninsula.Since then, no exchanges of letters, telephone calls or emails have been allowed between North and South Koreans. Family reunions remain a highly emotional issue and a barometer of the status of relations on the peninsula.
North Korea delivered its revised stance through the telephone hotline at the border village of Panmunjom, reminding South Korea of its leader Kim Jong-un’s “patriotic resolve and sense of responsibility” to improve ties with the South.North Korea delivered its revised stance through the telephone hotline at the border village of Panmunjom, reminding South Korea of its leader Kim Jong-un’s “patriotic resolve and sense of responsibility” to improve ties with the South.
The North’s agreement to family reunions came two hours after South Korea once again rejected Mr. Kim’s recent proposal to improve ties, asking the North to prove its sincerity through “action.”The North’s agreement to family reunions came two hours after South Korea once again rejected Mr. Kim’s recent proposal to improve ties, asking the North to prove its sincerity through “action.”
Mr. Kim called for improved relations with the South during his New Year’s Day speech. Pyongyang has since repeated the overture almost every day, insisting that it is time for South Korea and the United States to discuss easing tensions with the North.Mr. Kim called for improved relations with the South during his New Year’s Day speech. Pyongyang has since repeated the overture almost every day, insisting that it is time for South Korea and the United States to discuss easing tensions with the North.
North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations echoed the leader’s overtures, telling reporters at a news conference at the United Nations on Friday that his country wanted to “mend North-South relations” and blamed the South for drumming up tensions.
“They should definitely end the vicious cycle of slandering and hatred that is harmful to all,” the ambassador, Sin Son Ho, said, reading from a statement. He called the planned military exercises between the United States and South Korea “undeniable war games.”
Mr. Sin did not answer questions, referring instead to the official North Korean news agency.
But South Korea and its American ally remained skeptical over the North Korean motive. They said the charm offensive might be a deceptive prelude to a new round of military provocations — a fear that the North appeared to try to ease on Friday by accepting family reunions.But South Korea and its American ally remained skeptical over the North Korean motive. They said the charm offensive might be a deceptive prelude to a new round of military provocations — a fear that the North appeared to try to ease on Friday by accepting family reunions.
“Our important proposal is neither a deceptive peace overture nor propaganda warfare,” the National Defense Commission, the North’s top governing agency, headed by Mr. Kim, said in an “open letter” carried by its official Korean Central News Agency earlier Friday. It added that the South “should not thoughtlessly doubt, misinterpret and rashly reject our sincere, important proposal.”“Our important proposal is neither a deceptive peace overture nor propaganda warfare,” the National Defense Commission, the North’s top governing agency, headed by Mr. Kim, said in an “open letter” carried by its official Korean Central News Agency earlier Friday. It added that the South “should not thoughtlessly doubt, misinterpret and rashly reject our sincere, important proposal.”
At a news conference on Friday before North Korea announced its agreement to family reunions, Kim Eui-do, a South Korean government spokesman, said that there was no reason to trust North Korea.At a news conference on Friday before North Korea announced its agreement to family reunions, Kim Eui-do, a South Korean government spokesman, said that there was no reason to trust North Korea.
“The North should demonstrate its sincerity through action,” the spokesman said. “We wish that the North would be serious, but we cannot help but question its sincerity because it has often launched provocations following its peace offensives in the past.”“The North should demonstrate its sincerity through action,” the spokesman said. “We wish that the North would be serious, but we cannot help but question its sincerity because it has often launched provocations following its peace offensives in the past.”
South Korean and American officials believe that North Korea has repeatedly cheated them by alternating between military provocations and peace overtures in order to win dialogue and economic concessions while having no serious intention of giving up its nuclear weapons.South Korean and American officials believe that North Korea has repeatedly cheated them by alternating between military provocations and peace overtures in order to win dialogue and economic concessions while having no serious intention of giving up its nuclear weapons.
Under Ms. Park, South Korea has insisted that given the North’s track record, its regime cannot be trusted and that it must first make efforts to win the “trust” of the South and its allies before they can engage in a dialogue. Under Ms. Park, South Korea has insisted that given the North’s track record, its government cannot be trusted and that it must first make efforts to win the “trust” of the South and its allies before they can engage in a dialogue.
American officials have similarly argued that they would never “buy the same horse twice” from the North Koreans.American officials have similarly argued that they would never “buy the same horse twice” from the North Koreans.
Seoul and Washington cemented their unified position when the North conducted its third nuclear test in February last year — just one month after calling for an end to “confrontation” with the South — and the regime threatened nuclear attacks in retaliation against United Nations sanctions. They maintained that stance even as the North de-escalated and called for dialogue in recent weeks. Seoul and Washington cemented their unified position when the North conducted its third nuclear test in February last year — just one month after calling for an end to “confrontation” with the South — and threatened nuclear attacks in retaliation against United Nations sanctions. The North maintained that stance even as it de-escalated and called for dialogue in recent weeks.
The North’s agreement to hold family reunions marked a concession for the Pyongyang regime. Until now, it has often refused to hold such reunions when South Korea and the United States have conducted joint military drills, which it condemns as rehearsals for invasion. The North’s agreement to hold family reunions marked a concession by Pyongyang. Until now, it has often refused to hold such reunions when South Korea and the United States have conducted joint military drills, which it condemns as rehearsals for invasion.
About 22,000 people from both Koreas participated in 18 rounds of government-arranged reunions from 1985 to 2010, when the program was suspended as relations between the two countries soured. About 73,000 South Koreans — half of whom are more than 80 years old — remain on a waiting list for a chance to meet with parents, siblings or children in the North for the first time in 60 years.About 22,000 people from both Koreas participated in 18 rounds of government-arranged reunions from 1985 to 2010, when the program was suspended as relations between the two countries soured. About 73,000 South Koreans — half of whom are more than 80 years old — remain on a waiting list for a chance to meet with parents, siblings or children in the North for the first time in 60 years.
While the North’s recent overtures helped to ease tensions, fundamental gaps between North Korea and its foes remained unchanged.While the North’s recent overtures helped to ease tensions, fundamental gaps between North Korea and its foes remained unchanged.
In its “important proposal” to South Korea on Thursday last week, North Korea reiterated its demand that the United States and South Korea stop their annual joint military exercises. It also proposed that the two Koreas stop slandering each other and take actions to ease hostilities along the border and prevent a nuclear war.In its “important proposal” to South Korea on Thursday last week, North Korea reiterated its demand that the United States and South Korea stop their annual joint military exercises. It also proposed that the two Koreas stop slandering each other and take actions to ease hostilities along the border and prevent a nuclear war.
But the South scoffed at the proposal, saying that Pyongyang’s state-run propaganda machine was the main source of “slander” and that it was the North that was developing nuclear weapons. Mr. Kim, the South Korean spokesman, said that Seoul and Washington would go ahead with their joint war games that are to run from late February through April. But the South scoffed at the proposal, saying that Pyongyang’s state-run propaganda machine was the main source of “slander” and that it was the North that was developing nuclear weapons. Mr. Kim, the South Korean spokesman, said that Seoul and Washington would go ahead with their joint war games.
Mr. Kim also said that North Korea must apologize for two military attacks blamed on the North: the sinking of a South Korean Navy ship in 2010, in which 50 South Koreans were killed, and a subsequent North Korean artillery barrage on a South Korean island. Mr. Kim also said that North Korea must apologize for two military attacks attributed to the North: the sinking of a South Korean Navy ship in 2010, in which 50 South Koreans were killed, and a subsequent North Korean artillery barrage on a South Korean island.