North and South Korea have agreed to hold a reunion later this month for families separated by the Korean War, the first of its kind since 2010, the South’s Unification Ministry announced Wednesday.
Officials from both sides decided the reunion would be held Feb. 20-25 at the North’s Mount Kumgang resort, the Agence France-Presse reported.
“We hope that the latest agreement will be smoothly carried out to ease the suffering and pain of separated families,” the ministry said in a statement.
The two Koreas have set dates in the past for reunions, but observers warn that doesn’t necessarily mean the event will go through.
A reunion was supposed to be held last September, but Pyongyang cancelled at the last minute, citing “hostility” from the South, the AFP reported.
The agreement comes just weeks before the South and the United States are planning joint military exercises. North Korea has warned of dire consequences if the exercises go ahead.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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