South Korea Proposes Talks to Reunite War-Divided Families

[tammywammy]

Source: NY Times

SEOUL, South Korea — President Park Geun-hye of South Korea said Thursday that South and North Korea should resume arranging reunions of families separated by the Korean War six decades ago, and she renewed a proposal to build an “international peace park” straddling their heavily armed border.

Ms. Park’s conciliatory overtures came a day after the Koreas agreed to reopen an idled joint industrial park in the North Korean border town of Kaesong, a deal indicating that they were moving toward a thaw after months of tensions this year. The Kaesong agreement also appeared to give impetus to Ms. Park’s “trustpolitik” policy, which calls for building trust with the North as a foundation for more serious negotiations on ending the North’s nuclear weapons programs in exchange for helping the country rebuild its economy.

“South and North Korea must leave mistrust and confrontation behind and open the door for a new era of peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula,” Ms. Park said in her nationally televised speech Thursday, in observance of the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule with the end of World War II. “If North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons program, we can open a new era on the peninsula and work together to ease the pain and difficulties of the North Korean people.”

Ms. Park proposed that reunions of separated families be held around the autumn holiday of Chuseok on Sept. 19, traditionally a time for family gatherings in both Koreas.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/16/world/asia/s-korea-proposes-talks-to-reunite-war-divided-families.html

[davidpdx]

1. Forehead slap

This isn't going to end well. I live in South Korea and have never really had an opinion on the Kaesong complex before this last blow up, I think South Korea should leave it closed semi-permanently. The North Koreans need it more then the south does and they are the ones that used it to jerk around South Korea by closing it (then demanding millions in taxes payable in USD).

I really had hope for many years the two countries would at least try to coexist even if progress couldn't be made on reunification. Now I tend to think the viscous cycle the North keeps going on is getting ridiculous.

Human rights in the North are atrocious and we are hearing more and more from defectors about what is going on there.

[tammywammy]

2. It seems like Park is making a good attempt to help relations.

Starting up the reunion program will help.

[davidpdx]

3. On that part, I hope she makes progress

My FIL is from North Korea and hasn't seen his family in 60 years. It would be nice if they could find someone who is still alive for him to meet before he dies. He's getting up there in age (82) but is still a feisty guy. He can drink more than his weight in soju.