Sports Editor
On Feb. 11, North Korea dissolved the Inter-Korean Family Reunions Center, a facility dedicated to hosting the 1950-1953 Korean War separated families. The South Korean government explained that the demolition of the center was an effort by the North Korean government to remove symbols of engagement between the two war-divided nations. The Inter-Korean Family Reunions Center is a 12-story structure at the Diamond Mountain resort, hosting family reunion meetings within the 206 rooms and banquet facilities since 2009. The last family reunion was in 2018, shortly after North Korean dictator and politician Kim Jong Un started diplomatic talks with Seoul and Washington DC in an attempt to use his nuclear program to gain economic advantages.
Construction began after the Inter-Korean Joint Declaration on Jun, 15, 2000, which sought to establish regular family reunions between the two Koreas. West of the 12-story hotel stands a three-story organizational building for North Korean representatives. Similarly, to the east, stands a twin building for South Korean offices.
A spokesman for the Inter-Korean Family Reunions Center, Koo Byoung-Sam, wishes for the North Korean government to “immediately halt the demolition.” Many individuals have similar viewpoints on the act, believing that it will forever neglect separated families and violate the state’s property rights. Along with the Inter-Korean Family Reunions Center, the North has closed a South Korean-built hotel, golf course, and additional tourist facilities from the Diamond Mountain resort.
Kim Jong Un has recently expanded his nuclear weapons program and given up long-standing objectives of improving relations between North and South Korea. The North has deferred all diplomatic activity with the South and ignored the United States’ requests to devise new agreements, while continuing to accelerate the advancement of nuclear weaponry.
Since 1988, 130 thousand South Koreans have recorded their separated families and used the Inter-Korean Family Reunions Center as a source to connect with lost families. However, the number of disconnected families and individuals steadily decreases as family members pass away. Last month, the Ministry of Unification reported that by the end of 2024, 97,350 registered separated family members had passed away, including 2,959 in the past year alone. The number of surviving members has now fallen to 36,941, with approximately 85 percent being at least 70 years old.
Recently, the North started the complete demolition of nearby land designated for construction and the complete removal of South Korean-related facilities in the Kumgang area. North Korea has demolished a fire station funded by South Korea, located just outside the family reunion facility, following an order from Kim Jong Un in October to carry out a significant renovation of the area. These measures perpetuate division between North and South Korea, continually raising issues regarding the governments and their policies in both nations.
(Sources: AP, NK)
Categories: World