For decades, this venue has been the chamber for emotional reunions between separated families due to the Korean War, and North Korea is now tearing down a historic part of the venue. Thursday, Seoul confirmed the demolition, which it termed ‘inhumane,’ as it called for the actions to stop immediately.
When the Korean Peninsula was split by the 1950-53 Korean War, millions of families were divided. Instead of a peace treaty, the war ended with what amounted to an armistice, with North and South Korea still technically at war. Consequently, all civilian direct exchanges between the two nations have been banned for many years, and thousands of old families can not connect with their relatives.
The Mount Kumgang Reunion Center in North Korea was unique for years for what were thought to be short but emotional reunions when separated families met briefly. These reunions stood as potent reminders of the high human toll of the peninsula’s division. All this, however, only happened because such meetings followed political dynamics between the two Koreas and were routinely used by Pyongyang as a diplomatic bargaining chip. In 2018, the last family reunion at the site was held.
North Korea’s unilateral decision to demolish the center is strongly regretted by Seoul’s unification ministry. “Assaulting earnest wishes of separated families on the part of families separated, the demolition of the Mount Kumgang Reunion Center is an inhumane act.”
North Korea must take full responsibility for its actions and immediately stop its destruction, South Korea said, demanding an immediate halt to the process. “Accordingly, the alleged unilateral demolition by North Korea cannot be justified under any pretext and the North Korean authorities should bear full responsibility for this case,” the spokesperson added.
The latest move also soured already tense inter-Korea relations and dashed any hopes for future reunions of divided families.
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