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Several hundred elderly Koreans clung to each other, rocking and weeping, and trading photos and faded memories as they met yesterday at a reunion for families divided by the Korean war.
The emotional gathering at North Korea's Mount Kumgang resort was the result of tortuous, high-level negotiations between Pyongyang and Seoul, which had nearly broken down over the North's objections to South Korea-United States military exercises.
Watch: Emotional gatherings as divided Koreans meet after 60 years

Television footage showed snow falling hard as 82 South Koreans - some so frail they had to be carried on stretchers - arrived at the resort in a convoy of buses to meet 180 North Korean relatives they had not seen for decades.
Inside the main hall, where numbered tables had been laid out, there were moving scenes as related people sought each other out and then collapsed into each others' arms.

One of the oldest South Koreans, a 93-year-old man who was separated from his pregnant wife during the 1950-53 conflict, met the now 64-year-old son he had never seen.
"So old," were his first words as they came face-to-face, the resemblance strikingly clear to people watching.
"Let me hug you," the father said and then, sobbing, they embraced.
Nearly all of the participants had brought photographs, either tattered, black and white images of the family before it was split up, or new colour snaps of their present families.

These were then passed around, stroked and cried over.
Some of the reunions proved particularly traumatic, with one North Korean woman, Lee Jung-sil, desperately searching for recognition from her South Korean older sister, Lee Young-sil, 87, an Alzheimers sufferer.
"Big sister. It's me! Why can't you hear me?" Jung-sil said, tears streaming down her face.
A grand dinner was planned for the evening, and today the reunited relatives were to be given the chance for more private gatherings, to be held in their resort guest rooms.
The South Koreans, with an average age of 84, had left the eastern port city of Sokcho at 8.30am on 10 buses.
The departure was delayed as two woman needed medical attention, and ended up being taken in ambulances for the entire journey.
For all the joy the meetings bring, it is tempered by the realisation that - given the participants' advanced ages - it also marks a final farewell in most cases.
"This will be our first and last reunion," Kim Dong-bin, 81, said of the elder sister he left decades ago in Pyongyang.
Watch: South Koreans head for bittersweet family reunion in North



Bittersweet tears as divided Koreans meet after 60 years 

South Korean Lee Young-shil, 87 (right) meets with her North Korean sister Lee Jong Shil, 84, during the Separated Family Reunion Meeting at Diamond Mountain resort in North Korea, on Thursday. Photo: AP

South Korean Park Yang-gon (right), 53, and his North Korean brother Park Yang-su, who was abducted by North Korea, cry during their family reunion on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Kim Song-Yun (right) of South Korea embraces her sister Kim Seok-Ryo of North Korea. Photo: AFP

Lee Son-hyang, 88, (left) of South Korea and Lee Yoon Geun, 72 of North Korea embrace. Photo: AFP

The convoy carrying the South Koreans crosses the border and enters North Korea. Photo: Reuters

Korean families are reduced to tears as they are reunited. Photo: AP

'I want to see them before I die': Elderly South Koreans head to reunion with family in North 

Choi Jeong-ho, 91, leaves for North Korea's Mount Kumgang along with others selected for the much-awaited reunions. Photo: EPA

Jang Choon holds up a a picture of his youngest brother Jang Ha-choon. Many of those heading to the reunions brought gifts and mementos. Photo: Reuters

Kim Dong-bin. Photo: AFP

South Korean buses carrying the family members leave for Kumgang. Photo: Reuters

Heo Kyung-ok, 86, waves from a bus heading to North Korea's Mount Kumgang. Photo: EPA

Kim Sun-kyum, 91, wanted to participate in the reunion - even if he required a stretcher. Photo: AP

Koreans gather ahead of long-awaited family reunions

North Korean-born Kim Se-rim leaves his house in Seoul as he prepares to make his way to a reunion of families from North and South Korea separated by the war. Photo: AFP

South Korean Lee Kyun-myoung, 93, fills out application forms to reunite with his family members living in North Korea. Photo: AP

North Korea okays family reunions despite Southern drills with US

North Korea's Won Tong Yon (left) meets his Southern counterpart Kim Kyou-hyun for negotiations in Panmunjom yesterday. Photo: AP

South Korean Unification Ministry officials (right) shake hands with their North Korean counterparts at a meeting at the border village of Panumjom. Photo: AP

Family reunions offer Koreans the chance of a lifetime

An elderly man applies to meet his family in the North. Photo: AP

South Korea President Park Geun-hye tells North to stick to reunion plan 

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has warned North Korea not to renege on its agreement to host a reunion for divided families. Photo: AFP

South Korean Lee Kyun-myoung, 93, right, talks with Red Cross members as he fills out application forms to reunite with his family members living in North Korea. Photo: AP

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Emotional gatherings as aged Koreans are given chance to meet after decades apart


Bittersweet tears as divided Koreans meet after 60 years

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Emotional gatherings as aged Koreans are given chance to meet after decades apart

Emotional gatherings as aged Koreans are given chance to meet after decades apart