Two Koreas reach deal on reunions of split families
Saturday, 29 August 2009
SEOUL, Aug 28 (Reuters): The rival Koreas reached a deal Friday to resume from September reunions of families torn apart by the 1950-53 Korean War, as the isolated North reaches out to its foes after being hit by UN sanctions.
In another move to defrost ties with a traditional adversary, North Korea sent a delegation to the United States last week to discuss resuming non-governmental food aid to the impoverished communist state that battles chronic shortages, the South's Yonhap news agency quoted informed sources as saying.
Analysts said the conciliatory moves made by the North this month may be to bolster its coffers after UN sanctions imposed for its nuclear test in May made it more difficult to trade arms, cutting into a key source of cash that estimates say could be worth about six per cent of its $17 billion a year economy.
"The North Koreans are using strategic tactics to get around the problems caused by its nuclear programme," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the South's University of North Korean Studies.
The Koreas agreed to resume the reunions from September 26 to October 1 for about 100 families from both sides of the border.
In another move to defrost ties with a traditional adversary, North Korea sent a delegation to the United States last week to discuss resuming non-governmental food aid to the impoverished communist state that battles chronic shortages, the South's Yonhap news agency quoted informed sources as saying.
Analysts said the conciliatory moves made by the North this month may be to bolster its coffers after UN sanctions imposed for its nuclear test in May made it more difficult to trade arms, cutting into a key source of cash that estimates say could be worth about six per cent of its $17 billion a year economy.
"The North Koreans are using strategic tactics to get around the problems caused by its nuclear programme," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the South's University of North Korean Studies.
The Koreas agreed to resume the reunions from September 26 to October 1 for about 100 families from both sides of the border.