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DPRK proposes to hold reunion of separated families

24 January 2014 19:44 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) proposed Friday a reunion of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, the official KCNA news agency reported, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The DPRK Red Cross proposed to hold the reunions at the Mount Kumgang resort "at a convenient time" after the Lunar New Year holiday, said the KCNA, adding the proposal was sent to the president of South Korea's Red Cross.

The proposal said other issues could be discussed through the Red Cross communication channels at the truce village of Panmunjom.

Seoul responded quickly, saying it welcomed Pyongyang's acceptance of its recent proposal to hold a reunion, heralding a thaw in inter-Korean relations.

Earlier this month, Seoul called for a resumption of the reunions around Lunar New Year. But Pyongyang rejected the offer, querying if the reunions could be held in peace due to South Korea's "war drills" and planned joint military exercises.

The National Defense Commission on Thursday sent an "open letter" to South Korea, under a special order from DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un, urging Seoul to "stop all hostile military acts, and act positively to its important proposals" on improving inter-Korean relations.

South Korea's Unification Ministry confirmed in an e-mailed statement Friday that the DPRK sent the reunion proposal in the name of the Red Cross Friday afternoon.