South Korea proposes new talks with North on family reunions
Al JazeeraJul 28, 2022
On Thurs., S. Korea's unification minister Kwon Young-se offered talks with Pyongyang to resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. The last in-person meeting took place in 2018.
This comes on the eve of Chuseok, a holiday celebrated on both sides of the Korean Peninsula, when Koreans traditionally visit their families.
Despite its attempts to pose as a credible stakeholder, the Yoon administration is provoking confrontation by carrying out military drills and continuing adversarial rhetoric. It's presumptuous of the South to think that Pyongyang would be interested in engaging in talks with a government under untrustworthy circumstances.
Seoul is willing to discuss with Pyongyang how to solve this topic once and for all and is prepared to accept ideas from the North. While the Yoon administration has adopted a hardline approach on security issues in response to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, cooperation on humanitarian issues must prevail despite political circumstances. This will benefit the Peninsula and the international community alike.