This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/25/world/asia/korea.html
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| North Korea Agrees to Proposal to Resume Family Reunions, Reversing Stance | North Korea Agrees to Proposal to Resume Family Reunions, Reversing Stance |
| (7 months 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 that arranges reunions of elderly relatives separated six decades ago by the Korean War. | |
| 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 had rejected Ms. Park’s overture. It said the political mood was not right, 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 had rejected Ms. Park’s overture. It said the political mood was not right, 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 a new round of reunions could take place 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 a new round of reunions could take place 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 the 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 the 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 with a cease-fire in 1953, 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 with a cease-fire in 1953, with the peninsula still divided. |
| Since then, no exchanges of letters, telephone calls or emails have been allowed. 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. 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 the “patriotic resolve and sense of responsibility” of its leader, Kim Jong-un, to improve ties. The North’s agreement to resume family reunions came two hours after South Korea once again rejected a proposal from Mr. Kim to improve ties, asking the North to prove its sincerity through “action.” | North Korea delivered its revised stance through the telephone hotline at the border village of Panmunjom, reminding South Korea of the “patriotic resolve and sense of responsibility” of its leader, Kim Jong-un, to improve ties. The North’s agreement to resume family reunions came two hours after South Korea once again rejected a proposal from Mr. Kim to improve ties, asking the North to prove its sincerity through “action.” |
| Mr. Kim called for improved relations during his New Year’s Day speech. Pyongyang has since repeated the offer 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 during his New Year’s Day speech. Pyongyang has since repeated the offer 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 accusing the South of drumming up tensions. | 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 accusing the South of drumming up tensions. |
| “They should definitely end the vicious cycle of slandering and hatred that is harmful to all,” said the ambassador, Sin Son-ho, reading from a statement. He called the planned military exercises between the United States and South Korea “undeniable war games.” | “They should definitely end the vicious cycle of slandering and hatred that is harmful to all,” said the ambassador, Sin Son-ho, reading from a statement. He called the planned military exercises between the United States and South Korea “undeniable war games.” |
| South Korea and the United States remain skeptical about the North’s motives. 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 the family reunions. | South Korea and the United States remain skeptical about the North’s motives. 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 the 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 the 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 the 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, Kim Eui-do, a South Korean government spokesman, said there was no reason to trust the North. | At a news conference on Friday before North Korea announced its agreement, Kim Eui-do, a South Korean government spokesman, said there was no reason to trust the North. |
| “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,” he 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,” he said. |
| South Korean and American officials believe that North Korea has repeatedly cheated them by alternating between military provocations and peace overtures to win 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 to win economic concessions while having no serious intention of giving up its nuclear weapons. |
| The North’s agreement to hold family reunions signaled a concession by Pyongyang. It has often refused to hold such reunions when South Korea and the United States have conducted joint military drills. | The North’s agreement to hold family reunions signaled a concession by Pyongyang. It has often refused to hold such reunions when South Korea and the United States have conducted joint military drills. |
| About 22,000 people from both Koreas participated in government-arranged reunions from 1985 to 2010. About 73,000 South Koreans — half of whom are more than 80 years old — remain on a waiting list. | About 22,000 people from both Koreas participated in government-arranged reunions from 1985 to 2010. About 73,000 South Koreans — half of whom are more than 80 years old — remain on a waiting list. |