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South Korea and the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will exchange letters to confirm whether applicants for a reunion of families separated by the 1950- 53 Korean War are still alive about two weeks ahead of the agreed event, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday.
Seoul and Pyongyang have agreed to hold the reunion of separated families in the DPRK's scenic resort of Mount Kumgang from Oct. 20 to 26 after high-level talks in late August to defuse tensions that had pushed the Korean Peninsula to the brink of armed conflict.
Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-hee told a press briefing that the two Koreas will exchange response letters at around noon, which would confirm whether applicants for the reunion, mostly in their 80s and 90s, are still alive.
Seoul asked Pyongyang to confirm the life or death of relatives living in the DPRK for 250 South Koreans, and the DPRK called for the confirmation of 200 counterparts.
After ensuring that the relatives are alive and still have willingness to join the reunion, South Korea and the DPRK will trade the final lists Thursday of 100 people respectively who will participate in the humanitarian event.
Jeong said that the South Korean team for repair works left for the Mount Kumgang resort Sunday without any hindrance, noting that the DPRK has been actively providing support for the event.
Millions of Koreans were separated after the Korean conflict ended in a truce but not a peace treaty. Since then, all civilian communications have been banned.
About 66,000 South Koreans have been on the waiting list for the reunion event, but only a very limited number of the divided families have been allowed to join the rare event.
