The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Song Ji-hyo to make silver screen return in 'House of Meeting'

  • 3

    Seoul says FEOC guidance reduces uncertainty, will continue close consultation with US

  • 5

    5 Korea tourism clips top 225 mil. views

  • 7

    Yoon accepts resignation offer of head of state broadcasting watchdog

  • 9

    Is ruling party's reform drive at end of road?

  • 11

    Life expectancy of Koreans falls for first time in 52 years over COVID-19: data

  • 13

    Late Ven. Jaseung's additional notes on last will found at his residence

  • 15

    DL, SPC chiefs apologize for worker deaths under poor labor conditions

  • 17

    Crackdown on illegal short selling takes priority over MSCI listing: FSC vice chair

  • 19

    Cabinet passes motion requesting parliamentary reconsideration of 'yellow envelope bill'

  • 2

    N. Korean leader calls for increased aerial combat posture amid tension over satellite launch

  • 4

    First S. Korea spy satellite successfully launched into orbit

  • 6

    Tension mounts between Yoon administration, opposition party

  • 8

    Nexon workers in conflict with umbrella union over stance on feminism

  • 10

    Daegu mayor criticizes officials for spreading false hope about Expo bid

  • 12

    INTERVIEWHip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup

  • 14

    Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews

  • 16

    Yoon's state visit to Netherlands to focus on semiconductor cooperation

  • 18

    Hyundai chief pledges to support globalization of archery

  • 20

    US slaps additional sanctions against N. Korea in response to spy satellite launch

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
North Korea
Sun, December 3, 2023 | 07:17
Family reunions set for Feb. 20-25
남북, '2월20∼25일 이산가족 금강산 상봉' 합의
Posted : 2014-02-05 17:45
Updated : 2014-02-05 17:45
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Lee Duck-hang, left, South Korean chief delegate to the working-level Red Cross talks for the inter-Korean family reunion program, shake hands with his North Korean counterpart, Pak Yong-il, after holding talks at the truce village of Panmunjom, Wednesday. / Yonhap
Lee Duck-hang, left, South Korean chief delegate to the working-level Red Cross talks for the inter-Korean family reunion program, shake hands with his North Korean counterpart, Pak Yong-il, after holding talks at the truce village of Panmunjom, Wednesday. / Yonhap

By Chung Min-uck


The two Koreas agreed Wednesday to hold family reunions on Feb. 20-25 at Mt. Geumgang, a scenic resort in North Korea.

The schedule for the reunions of families separated by the Korean War (1950-53) — which will be the first since October 2010 — was finalized after the South accepted a proposal by the North at a meeting in the truce village of Panmunjeom.

The timing is likely to coincide with the start of joint ROK-U.S. war games, triggering speculation that the North may use the meetings as a way to promote its claim that the two allies are preparing for an invasion.

Around 100 individuals from South Korea will participate in the family reunions and will stay at the North's Mt. Geumgang Hotel during their six-day visit, as Seoul requested, the Ministry of Unification said.

Officials here will be dispatched to the North on Friday for inspection purposes, added the ministry.

"The two sides have also decided to discuss — after the family reunions — other humanitarian issues, including the returning of South Koreans who were kidnapped by the North," the ministry said.

Experts say the family reunions are expected to serve as a cornerstone in improving the current conflict-ridden South-North relations.

North Korea's chief delegate to the working-level Red Cross talks, Pak Yong-il, said that the latest gathering "is a very important starting point in improving North-South relations," according to the ministry.

In response, South Korean chief delegate, Lee Duck-hang, called for "more mutual efforts to build trust between the South and North."

Setting dates for the reunions was one of the major sticking points in negotiations.

Seoul earlier proposed launching the reunions Feb. 17, but Pyongyang rejected the idea. It instead called for a cancellation of Seoul's annual joint military exercises with Washington, dubbed Foal Eagle and Key Resolve.

But the allies refused to do so, saying that their exercises were defensive in nature.

The joint drills kick off later this month and are likely to overlap with the upcoming reunions.

Family reunions are an urgent issue because most of the separated Koreans are in their 70s and 80s.

The two Koreas have held 18 reunions since 2000, but they were halted in 2010 after relations soured in the wake of North Korea's deadly attack on a South Korean warship and an island.

Last year, the sides agreed to hold family reunions at Mt. Geumgang, but Pyongyang abruptly called them off at the last minute.

Over 20,000 separated family members here have met their relatives, but there are around 70,000 South Koreans registered to participate in the program.


남북, '2월20∼25일 이산가족 금강산 상봉' 합의

키리졸브 연습기간과 일부 겹칠듯…시설점검단 7일 방북
상봉 행사후 적십자 추가접촉, '인도적 문제' 논의키로


남북은 오는 20∼25일 금강산에서 이산가족 상봉 행사를 개최하기로 5일 합의했다.

남북은 이날 판문점 북측 지역 통일각에서 열린 적십자 실무접촉에서 이 같은 내용을 골자로 한 합의서를 채택했다고 통일부가 전했다.

이에 따라 이산가족 상봉 행사는 2010년 10월 이후 3년4개월 만에 다시 열리게 됐다.

이번 합의 날짜는 우리 정부가 애초 제의한 '2월17∼22일'보다는 사흘 순연된 것이지만 이달 말 키 리졸브 연습이 시작된다는 점을 고려하면 북한이 한미군사훈련 전에 상봉 행사를 시작하자는 우리 제안을 기본적으로 수용한 것으로 해석된다.

특히 남북이 합의한 상봉행사 기간의 후반부는 키 리졸브 연습 기간과 일부 겹치는 것으로 알려져 북측이 이 기간 상봉행사 개최에 동의한 배경이 주목된다.

북한은 이날 내부 사정을 이유로 우리가 제의한 일자보다 사흘 뒤부터 상봉 행사를 개최하자는 입장을 밝혔고 우리는 이를 수용했다.

북한은 이날 한미군사훈련 중단 요구 등 자신들이 내놓은 소위 '중대 제안' 내용을 재차 우리측에 강조한 것으로 전해졌지만 특별한 쟁점은 되지 못했다.

지난해 추석 상봉행사 추진 당시 합의하지 못했던 우리 상봉단의 숙소 문제는 우리 정부가 요구한 대로 금강산호텔과 외금강호텔로 확정됐다.

상봉자 규모는 남북 쌍방 각 100명으로 하되 지난해 9월 추석 상봉 추진 때 교환한 명단에 있는 이들을 대상자로 하기로 합의했다.

상봉 행사 준비를 위한 우리측 실무 점검단은 7일 금강산으로 들어가며, 상봉 시작 5일 전에는 현지에 행사를 진행을 위한 우리 선발대가 파견된다.

우리측은 이날 접촉에서 상봉예정일 직전 북한의 일방적 조치로 무산된 작년 추석 상봉의 사례를 거론하면서 이 같은 일이 재발해서는 안 된다는 입장을 강조했고 이에 대해 북측도 의견을 같이했다고 통일부는 전했다.

남북은 또 이번 이산가족 상봉 행사 개최 뒤 다시 적십자 실무접촉을 갖고 '인도적 문제 해결'을 위한 논의를 계속해 나가기로 합의했다.

우리측에서는 이를 통해 이산가족 상봉 정례화, 국군포로 및 납북자 문제 등을 제기할 예정이지만 북한은 쌀이나 비료 등 대북 인도적 지원 문제를 제기할 가능성이 있는 것으로 관측된다.

통일부 당국자는 '그동안 말이 아닌 행동으로 진정성을 보이라고 한 것에 대해 북한이 호응해 말이 아닌 행동으로 답을 한 것으로 이해한다'고 이번 합의를 긍정 평가했다.

이 당국자는 '이산가족 문제에 진전이 있으면, (이산가족 문제가) 남북관계의 첫 단추이기 때문에 다른 문제도 앞으로 남북관계 상황을 고려해가며 협의할 수 있다고 생각한다'고 밝혔다.
Emailmuchung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
15 Korea tourism clips top 225 mil. views 5 Korea tourism clips top 225 mil. views
2Tension mounts between Yoon administration, opposition partyTension mounts between Yoon administration, opposition party
3Nexon workers in conflict with umbrella union over stance on feminism Nexon workers in conflict with umbrella union over stance on feminism
4Is ruling party's reform drive at end of road? Is ruling party's reform drive at end of road?
5Daegu mayor criticizes officials for spreading false hope about Expo bid Daegu mayor criticizes officials for spreading false hope about Expo bid
6Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews
7DL, SPC chiefs apologize for worker deaths under poor labor conditions DL, SPC chiefs apologize for worker deaths under poor labor conditions
8Crackdown on illegal short selling takes priority over MSCI listing: FSC vice chair Crackdown on illegal short selling takes priority over MSCI listing: FSC vice chair
9Hyundai chief pledges to support globalization of archery Hyundai chief pledges to support globalization of archery
102023 Korea-EU CSO Network Human Rights Conference to emphasize diversity, practice inclusivity 2023 Korea-EU CSO Network Human Rights Conference to emphasize diversity, practice inclusivity
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Hip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup INTERVIEWHip-hop group Uptown returns after 13 years with new lineup
2ONE PACT debuts hoping to leave big impact on K-pop scene ONE PACT debuts hoping to leave big impact on K-pop scene
3[INTERVIEW] ASTRO members aim to shine in musical theaterINTERVIEWASTRO members aim to shine in musical theater
4'Our Season' director, veteran actor discuss creating relatable mother-daughter story 'Our Season' director, veteran actor discuss creating relatable mother-daughter story
5December brings mix of action, thriller, romance to small screen December brings mix of action, thriller, romance to small screen
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group