North Korea suddenly dismantles facility for reuniting separated families

South Korea on February 13 accused the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) of demolishing a facility at the Mount Kumgang resort used to hold meetings between families separated after the Korean War (1950-1953).

South Korea's Unification Ministry issued a statement calling on North Korea to immediately stop its actions at the site near the border. South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Koo Byoung-sam expressed "deep regret" over North Korea's move, saying Seoul would consider legal measures against the move and respond jointly with the international community.

Mr. Byoung-sam declared that all responsibility arising from this incident will lie entirely with North Korea.

A separated family is moved during a reunion after many years of separation at the Mount Kumgang resort in August 2018.

According to Yonhap, the family reunion facility is the only structure left intact at the Mount Kumgang resort, after North Korea destroyed all other facilities in the area. The resort was once seen as a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation, hosting emotional reunions between families separated during the Korean War.

An 80-year-old South Korean citizen who is an Australian resident and citizen has traveled to North Korea to meet his two grandsons in the first privately held family reunion in five years, the Unification Ministry said. This is also the first privately held family reunion recorded since 2019.

Reuters said the developments could increase inter-Korean tensions in the context of the relationship between North Korea and South Korea, which has been simmering in discord in recent times. In 2024, North Korea blew up part of the border roads, connecting with South Korea, which were considered a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation. The South Korean military had to fire warning shots at that time.

In 2023, North Korea also announced it was scrapping a 2018 military agreement designed to reduce the risk of accidental conflict between the two sides, a move that prompted a similar response from South Korea.

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There have been signs recently that North Korea may be preparing to reopen to some foreign tourists for the first time in more than five years since closing its borders to tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Reuters.

Chinese travel company Koryo Tours said on February 13 that tours to North Korea had "officially resumed" as some of its employees were allowed into the Rason area - a move expected to mark the restart of the country's tourism industry.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trieu-tien-bat-ngo-thao-do-co-so-doan-tu-cac-gia-dinh-bi-chia-cat-185250213120058902.htm