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North and South Koreans Meet in Emotional Family Reunions Amid Hugs and Tears, Korean Families Divided by War Reunite
(about 7 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — Lee Beom-ju, 86, had little to say at first.SEOUL, South Korea — Lee Beom-ju, 86, had little to say at first.
“I am sorry, I am sorry,” he told his long-lost younger brother and sister in North Korea when he finally met with them on Thursday, during the first family reunions on the divided Korean Peninsula in more than three years.“I am sorry, I am sorry,” he told his long-lost younger brother and sister in North Korea when he finally met with them on Thursday, during the first family reunions on the divided Korean Peninsula in more than three years.
Mr. Lee, now a South Korean citizen, fled the North in 1951 during the Korean War. Until Thursday, Mr. Lee had not seen his family since, living with a sense of guilt for failing to look after them as the eldest son, according to pool reports from the South Korean news media. Hwa-ja, the little sister he last saw 63 years ago, is now a 72-year-old grandmother. Mr. Lee, now a South Korean citizen, fled the North in 1951 during the Korean War. Until Thursday, Mr. Lee had not seen his family since, living with a sense of guilt for failing to look after it as the eldest son, according to pool reports from the South Korean news media. Hwa-ja, the little sister he last saw 63 years ago, is now a 72-year-old grandmother.
“Grandfather told me to run, run and go to the South, away from the war, because I was his eldest grandson,” Mr. Lee said in tears, explaining to his sister and his brother, Yoon-ju, 67, why he had to leave them behind. “I am sorry.” “Grandfather told me to run, run and go to the South, away from the war, because I was his eldest grandson,” Mr. Lee said in tears, explaining to his sister and his brother, Yoon-ju, 67, why he had to leave them behind.
Mr. Lee was among 83 elderly South Koreans, including a 96-year-old grandmother, who crossed the border in buses and ambulances on Thursday to meet with 178 North Korean relatives at the Diamond Mountain resort in southeast North Korea. Mr. Lee was among 83 older South Koreans, including a 96-year-old grandmother, who crossed the border in buses and ambulances on Thursday to meet with 178 North Korean relatives at the Diamond Mountain resort in southeastern North Korea.
The rival governments agreed to the family reunions as their first serious gesture toward easing frayed ties and rebuilding trust after several years of high tensions caused by the North’s nuclear tests and armed provocations against the South. Foreign reporters were not allowed to cover the event.The rival governments agreed to the family reunions as their first serious gesture toward easing frayed ties and rebuilding trust after several years of high tensions caused by the North’s nuclear tests and armed provocations against the South. Foreign reporters were not allowed to cover the event.
The reunions bore witness to the pain that the long political divide on the peninsula has inflicted upon separated families. Graying sons and sisters hugged and collapsed in tears on the laps of their parents and brothers, many of whom were so old and weak that they had to make the trip across the border in wheelchairs. The reunions bore witness to the pain the long political divide on the peninsula has inflicted upon separated families. Graying sons and sisters hugged and collapsed in tears on the laps of their parents and brothers, many of whom were so old and weak that they had to make the trip across the border in wheelchairs.
“Father’s last wish in his deathbed was that I should look and find you,” Kim Myeong-bok, 66, told his North Korean sister, Myeong-ja, 68, who was the only member of his family left in the North.“Father’s last wish in his deathbed was that I should look and find you,” Kim Myeong-bok, 66, told his North Korean sister, Myeong-ja, 68, who was the only member of his family left in the North.
Lee Young-sil, 88, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, did not recognize her North Korean sister and daughter. A 93-year-old man named Kang Neung-hwan met a North Korean son born after he had fled to the South. Lee Young-sil, 88, who has Alzheimer’s disease, did not recognize her North Korean sister and daughter. A 93-year-old man named Kang Neung-hwan met a North Korean son born after he had fled to the South.
The separation has been so long that some carried their prewar photos to help their siblings recognize them. They also packed photos of their hometowns, as well as underwear and other gifts for their relatives in the impoverished North.The separation has been so long that some carried their prewar photos to help their siblings recognize them. They also packed photos of their hometowns, as well as underwear and other gifts for their relatives in the impoverished North.
The family reunions are a highly emotional issue and a barometer of the status of relations on the peninsula. The two Koreas agreed to revive the humanitarian program last week after the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, called for improved relations with the South during his New Year’s Day speech.The family reunions are a highly emotional issue and a barometer of the status of relations on the peninsula. The two Koreas agreed to revive the humanitarian program last week after the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, called for improved relations with the South during his New Year’s Day speech.
But the family meetings also provide glaring testimony as to how far the two political systems have drifted apart. In the past six decades, a totalitarian regime has taken root in the North, while the South evolved into a democracy with a globalized economy. During past reunions, relatives from the North showed far less emotion, at least while they were being watched by North Korean officials and news media. They often puzzled their South Korean relatives by abruptly launching into long speeches praising their “great leader” and blaming the “American imperialists” for the Korean divide. But the family meetings also provide testimony as to how far the two political systems have drifted apart. In the past six decades, a totalitarian government has taken root in the North, while the South has evolved into a democracy with a globalized economy. During past reunions, relatives from the North showed far less emotion, at least while North Korean officials and the news media were watching them. They often puzzled their South Korean relatives by abruptly launching into long speeches praising their “great leader” and blaming “American imperialists” for the Korean divide.
On Thursday, the North Korean relatives praised their “marshal,” thanking Mr. Kim for making the reunions possible.On Thursday, the North Korean relatives praised their “marshal,” thanking Mr. Kim for making the reunions possible.
This week’s reunions last until Saturday, when the relatives will return to their homes. From Saturday to Monday, a separate group of 88 North Koreans will arrive in Diamond Mountain to meet with 361 relatives who will travel from the South.This week’s reunions last until Saturday, when the relatives will return to their homes. From Saturday to Monday, a separate group of 88 North Koreans will arrive in Diamond Mountain to meet with 361 relatives who will travel from the South.
The meetings are likely to be the elderly Koreans’ last chance to see their relatives before they die. Their initial tearful joy is replaced by heartbreak as they bid farewell. In the past, sisters and daughters clung at the windows of departing buses. Fathers told sons the dates of their grandparents’ death so they could continue the all-important Confucian rites of ancestral worship. The meetings are likely to be the older Koreans’ last chance to see their relatives before they die. Their initial tearful joy is replaced by heartbreak as they bid farewell. In the past, sisters and daughters clung at the windows of departing buses. Fathers told sons the dates of their grandparents’ deaths so they could continue the all-important Confucian rites of ancestral worship.
Millions of Koreans were separated from relatives when the peninsula was divided into the Communist North and the pro-American South at the end of World War II in 1945. Since the Korean War of 1950-53, no exchanges of letters, telephone calls or emails have been allowed between North and South Koreans, and the occasional government-arranged reunions are just about their only chance to meet relatives. Millions of Koreans were separated from relatives when the peninsula was divided into the Communist North and the pro-American South at the end of World War II in 1945. Since the Korean War of 1950-53, no exchanges of letters, telephone calls or emails have been allowed between North and South Koreans, and the occasional reunions are just about their only chance to meet relatives.
The humanitarian wishes of the separated families have always been subject to the political mood of the two governments.The humanitarian wishes of the separated families have always been subject to the political mood of the two governments.
They did not agree to hold family reunions until 1985. For the next 15 years, there was no reunion. A breakthrough came when Kim Dae-jung, then the president of South Korea, traveled to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, for the first inter-Korean summit meeting in 2000.They did not agree to hold family reunions until 1985. For the next 15 years, there was no reunion. A breakthrough came when Kim Dae-jung, then the president of South Korea, traveled to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, for the first inter-Korean summit meeting in 2000.
After that, the two Koreas held up to three rounds of reunions a year until 2008, when a conservative government deeply critical of the North’s nuclear weapons program took power in Seoul.After that, the two Koreas held up to three rounds of reunions a year until 2008, when a conservative government deeply critical of the North’s nuclear weapons program took power in Seoul.
The family reunions were revived in 2009, but were suspended again the following year amid souring relations. The family reunions were revived in 2009, but were suspended again the following year amid souring relations. The Koreas held their last reunions in 2010.
A total of 22,000 people from both Koreas have participated in past reunions. About 71,000 South Koreans — more than half of whom are 80 or older — remain on a waiting list for a chance to meet with relatives in the North. South Korean participants are selected by lottery. It is unclear how the North chooses its candidates. Of those on the waiting list, 3,800 die each year without fulfilling their dreams. A total of 22,000 people from both Koreas have participated in past reunions. About 71,000 South Koreans — more than half of them 80 or older — remain on a waiting list for a chance to meet with relatives in the North. South Korean participants are selected by lottery. It is unclear how the North chooses its candidates. Of those on the waiting list, 3,800 die each year without fulfilling their dreams.
Earlier Thursday, Kim Seom-gyeong, 91, arrived in an ambulance at Sokcho, a town in northeast South Korea where the government gathered South Korean participants before taking them across the border. Earlier Thursday, Kim Seom-gyeong, 91, arrived in an ambulance at Sokcho, a town in northeastern South Korea where the government gathered South Korean participants before taking them across the border. “Even if I die, I will die in the Diamond Mountain,” Mr. Kim was quoted as saying by the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
“Even if I die, I will die in the Diamond Mountain,” Mr. Kim was quoted as saying by the South Korean news agency Yonhap.