S. Korea starts renovating facilities for inter-Korean video reunions of war-torn families
Arirang News
2019-04-03
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국내 13개 이산가족 화상상봉장 4월동안 개보수... 북측 상봉장은 아직
Preparations to hold inter-Korean video reunions for families separated by the Korean War have begun in South Korea.
Earlier today, Seoul started renovating 13 facilities across the country that will be used for the event.
Arirang's unification ministry correspondent Oh Jung-hee has the details.
Here at the Seoul headquarters of South Korea's Red Cross,... officials are removing old monitors, cameras, and communication devices.
Last used in 2007, these can't be used anymore... as communication technology has moved on.
By the end of this month, new equipment and communication lines will be installed.
This... as South Korea renovates 13 facilities around the country -- 5 in the capital, and 8 in other cities -- that will be used for the video reunions of families separated by the Korean War.
"Inter-Korean video reunions stopped since 2007. So we need to install new network devices, video equipment and communication lines."
The key focus: making it convenient for the elderly.
Video reunions first came up as an alternative to face-to-face reunions for people aged over 90... as the journey across the border to the North's Geumgang-san resort was too much of a burden for them.
"Four facilities out of thirteen in the country will be completely rebuilt. Meetings rooms on the second floor or in the basement will be moved to the first floor to help the elderly."
From 2005 to 2007, there had been 7 rounds of inter-Korean video reunions,... where a total of over 37-hundred people from South and North Korea were able to talk with their relatives from the other side of the border.
The leaders of the two Koreas agreed at their summit last September to work on resuming these... for the long-lost families on both sides.
"Through its bilateral working group meeting with the U.S. last month, Seoul did receive sanctions waivers to renovate video reunions facilities in the North and deliver necessary items across the border. But renovations of North Korean facilities haven’t started yet as South Korea hasn't talked with Pyeongyang. The dates for the video reunions and the much needed inter-Korean Red Cross talks are also yet to be announced. Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News."
Preparations to hold inter-Korean video reunions for families separated by the Korean War have begun in South Korea.
Earlier today, Seoul started renovating 13 facilities across the country that will be used for the event.
Arirang's unification ministry correspondent Oh Jung-hee has the details.
Here at the Seoul headquarters of South Korea's Red Cross,... officials are removing old monitors, cameras, and communication devices.
Last used in 2007, these can't be used anymore... as communication technology has moved on.
By the end of this month, new equipment and communication lines will be installed.
This... as South Korea renovates 13 facilities around the country -- 5 in the capital, and 8 in other cities -- that will be used for the video reunions of families separated by the Korean War.
"Inter-Korean video reunions stopped since 2007. So we need to install new network devices, video equipment and communication lines."
The key focus: making it convenient for the elderly.
Video reunions first came up as an alternative to face-to-face reunions for people aged over 90... as the journey across the border to the North's Geumgang-san resort was too much of a burden for them.
"Four facilities out of thirteen in the country will be completely rebuilt. Meetings rooms on the second floor or in the basement will be moved to the first floor to help the elderly."
From 2005 to 2007, there had been 7 rounds of inter-Korean video reunions,... where a total of over 37-hundred people from South and North Korea were able to talk with their relatives from the other side of the border.
The leaders of the two Koreas agreed at their summit last September to work on resuming these... for the long-lost families on both sides.
"Through its bilateral working group meeting with the U.S. last month, Seoul did receive sanctions waivers to renovate video reunions facilities in the North and deliver necessary items across the border. But renovations of North Korean facilities haven’t started yet as South Korea hasn't talked with Pyeongyang. The dates for the video reunions and the much needed inter-Korean Red Cross talks are also yet to be announced. Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News."
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