In a heartbreakingly bittersweet reunion, dozens of families wrenched apart by the Korean War and a fiercely guarded border crossing more than 55 years ago are getting a chance to see one another this weekend and next, albeit briefly, CNN reports.
The war, which ended in 1953, divided millions of family members between North and South Korea, leaving them unable to communicate either by mail, email or telephone for decades. The temporary visitations, which will last but a few days, are the result of talks facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross and are the first organized reunions in two years.
An astounding 10,000 people submitted requests to take part, but just 200 families are being accommodated. About half were reunited Saturday, with the other half scheduled to come together next weekend. The supervised reunions are taking place in a North Korean resort in Mount Keumgang near the eastern part of the border that divides North and South Korea.
As a citizen of a free country, it’s virtually impossible for me to wrap my head around the helplessness of such a situation. For the lucky few who won what was essentially a lottery to see their families, the reunions will no doubt still up some very deep and intense emotions of loss. Some of them may even discover that a loved-one has passed away, while others will happily learn that parents they thought were long gone are in fact still alive.
Similar reunions have been taking place since 2000, following a summit in Pyongyang, with the last one in October 2007. Those who weren’t selected this time, of course, will only be left to wonder when next they may get a shot at seeing their loved ones face to face and the difficult task of living a lifetime together in a few fleeting days.
Watch a CNN report of Saturday’s reunion below:
Photo of Mount Keumgang courtesy of Calix via Flickr.