North, South Korea OK 3-Day Reunions of Broken Families
North and South Korea today broke a deadlock and climaxed 13 years of negotiations by agreeing to exchange separated family members, artists and other individuals for the first time since Korea was divided at the end of World War II.
The agreement to exchange 151 civilians each on Sept. 20 for a three-day visit was made during a Red Cross meeting at the truce village of Panmunjom, and was considered by observers to be a milestone in the history of relations between the divided Korean states.
Each group will consist of 50 separated family members, 50 art performers, 30 reporters, 20 support personnel and one Red Cross official, South Korean officials said.
The agreement culminated negotiations that started in 1972 to help reunite 10 million family members separated since 1945.
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