Thousands wait in hope as Koreas begin talks to prepare for family reunions

North and South Korea started talks on Monday on resuming the reunions of families separated by the war which split the peninsula in the early 1950s. The talks among the rivals’ Red Cross officials at Panmunjom were made possible after they struck a deal earlier this month that eased animosity which threatened war. The last highly emotional reunion happened in February last year. Most applicants are in their 70s or older and desperate to see their loved ones before they die. Each meeting gets deluged by tens of thousands of applications from South Korea, but only a tiny percentage get selected. However, analysts remain skeptical about inter-Korean ties because of speculation that North Korea will fire what it calls a satellite to celebrate next month’s 70th birthday of its ruling party. Similar past launches triggered an international standoff as South Korea and other neighboring countries called them disguised tests for long-range missiles.

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