(VOVworld) – The Republic of Korea has not been able to create a suitable atmosphere for any negotiations on organizing reunions for separated families of the two Koreas, said the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on Thursday. Seoul’s Ministry of Unification has expressed regret at Pyongyang’s rejection.
Seoul on Wednesday proposed Red Cross talks with Pyongyang next week at the border truce village of Panmunjom. The proposal was made after the two Koreas organized family reunions for the first time in 3 years at Mount Kum Gang resort in late February.


The Korean War between 1950-1953 left millions of people separated from their families with most of them dying without meeting their relatives again. There are currently 71,000 people aged above 70 on the waiting list for family reunions.