South Korean families of 83 North Korean participants to meet their long-lost relatives
- 6 years ago
Today is the registration day for the South Koreans heading to the second batch of reunions of families separated since the start of the Korean War more than 60 years ago.
The first group of South and North Korean participants bid a final farewell to their long-lost relatives on Wednesday,... a tearful occasion for all those involved.
Our Kan Hyeong-woo is in the city of Sokcho, near the inter-Korean border, where the participants for the second round of reunions will gather ahead of their bus trip to North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort.
Hyeong-woo,... what's on the cards for today?
Good morning Mark… and yes. As you mentioned, the first three-day session of family reunions ended on Wednesday. Today is the preparation day before the second round that begins on Friday.
Unlike the first round where the participants chosen by South Korea met their relatives from the North,… this time, it's the participants chosen by North Korea meeting their relatives from the South.
So the South Korean families of the 83 North Korean participants will gather here today in Sokcho,... where they will be instructed on the do's and don'ts while they are in the North.
After spending the night here, they will cross the border on Friday morning.
Then for three days, the families will have eleven hours, divided into six sessions, to be with their long lost relatives.
They will have meals together and catch up in both a public meeting area and in private rooms.
What's different from the first session is that this time... the Family Reunion Center near the Mount Kumgang resort will be open and used to provide a place for the families to spend time together.
The Kumgang Family Reunion Center was built in 2008 and had hosted four family reunions up to 2015. But it has been left untouched for the last three years, so there have been renovation efforts to get the place ready for this year's reunion.
The participating families are expected to gather here for the registration this afternoon, and I'll be here throughout the day to keep you updated.
Back to you, Mark.
The first group of South and North Korean participants bid a final farewell to their long-lost relatives on Wednesday,... a tearful occasion for all those involved.
Our Kan Hyeong-woo is in the city of Sokcho, near the inter-Korean border, where the participants for the second round of reunions will gather ahead of their bus trip to North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort.
Hyeong-woo,... what's on the cards for today?
Good morning Mark… and yes. As you mentioned, the first three-day session of family reunions ended on Wednesday. Today is the preparation day before the second round that begins on Friday.
Unlike the first round where the participants chosen by South Korea met their relatives from the North,… this time, it's the participants chosen by North Korea meeting their relatives from the South.
So the South Korean families of the 83 North Korean participants will gather here today in Sokcho,... where they will be instructed on the do's and don'ts while they are in the North.
After spending the night here, they will cross the border on Friday morning.
Then for three days, the families will have eleven hours, divided into six sessions, to be with their long lost relatives.
They will have meals together and catch up in both a public meeting area and in private rooms.
What's different from the first session is that this time... the Family Reunion Center near the Mount Kumgang resort will be open and used to provide a place for the families to spend time together.
The Kumgang Family Reunion Center was built in 2008 and had hosted four family reunions up to 2015. But it has been left untouched for the last three years, so there have been renovation efforts to get the place ready for this year's reunion.
The participating families are expected to gather here for the registration this afternoon, and I'll be here throughout the day to keep you updated.
Back to you, Mark.