South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Friday called on North Korea to consider humanitarian measures that would allow families separated by the 1950–53 Korean War to confirm the fate of their relatives and exchange letters. The appeal comes amid ongoing stalemate in inter-Korean relations.
Since taking office in June, Lee has extended an olive branch to Pyongyang to mend frayed ties. However, tensions remain high, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ruling out talks and describing inter-Korean relations as those between “two states hostile to each other.”
Speaking at the Ganghwa Peace Observatory in Incheon, overlooking North Korea, Lee said:
“I think it is the responsibility of the political circles in both South and North to let the separated families confirm whether their relatives are alive and, at the very least, exchange letters.”
He emphasized the humanitarian importance of such measures, adding, “Even if we are in confrontation and conflict and competing militarily and politically, these measures are needed from a humanitarian standpoint.”
Lee expressed regret over the continued hostilities, admitting that the prolonged separation of families is partly due to political shortcomings. He stressed his commitment to advancing the day when these families can meet again.
Since the landmark summit of 2000, the divided Koreas have held 21 rounds of family reunions, reuniting over 20,000 family members who had not seen each other since the war. Traditionally, such reunions are staged during Chuseok, a major holiday celebrated in both countries, as well as other significant national holidays. The most recent temporary reunions took place in 2018.
Many separated family members are now in their 70s and 80s, making reunions a pressing humanitarian concern. In 2022, South Korea proposed talks to discuss family reunions, but North Korea has yet to respond.
Lee plans to use the extended Chuseok holiday to rest and prepare for the rest of the year, including attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju on October 31 and November 1. He is also scheduled to appear on a TV cooking show to promote his favorite Korean foods.
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