South Korean President Park Geun-Hye called on Thursday for the first family reunions with North Korea in three years, a day after the two nations agreed to reopen a joint industrial zone.
In a speech marking the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule in 1945, Park urged Pyongyang to “open its heart” and agree to a meeting next month for families left divided for decades by the Korean War.
The South Korean leader also welcomed on Wednesday’s agreement on the Kaesong industrial park, which she said could start “inter-Korea relations anew” after months of sky-high tensions.
“I hope that the North will open its heart so that the divided families can be reunited around the Chuseok holiday,” Park said, referring to a traditional Korean harvest festival that this year falls on September 19.
The South Korean leader also welcomed on Wednesday’s agreement on the Kaesong industrial park, which she said could start “inter-Korea relations anew” after months of sky-high tensions
Millions of Koreans were left separated by the 1950-53 war. The last round of reunions to allow ageing relatives to meet under Red Cross auspices took place in 2010, when as in previous rounds there were scenes of high emotion.