North Korea Destroys Reunion Site for Korean War-Separated Families, Angers South Korea

North Korea is demolishing the Mount Kumgang Reunion Center, a site where families separated by the Korean War would reunite in tearful encounters. The reunions, which took place most recently in 2018, allowed families to meet again after years apart. But the reunions were traditionally controlled by political tensions between the Koreas.

South Korea expressed strong remorse at the destruction, labeling it a humane act that is ignoring the wishes of the divided families. Since 1988, approximately 130,000 South Koreans have requested reunions with divided family members, most not knowing if their kin are dead or alive. Few have been fortunate enough to attend the reunions.

North and South Korea were already holding reunions since 1985, but they became the norm following the 2000 inter-Korean summit. The program is now practically shut down, with the two nations’ relations at a low. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un recently called South Korea his “principal enemy,” further diminishing hopes for reunions in the future.