Dozens of elderly and frail South Koreans wept and hugged their long-lost relatives as they were allowed to cross the heavily armed border for a three-day reunion with family members in the North.
The two countries – which are technically still at war – have organised reunion events before, but this is the first in three years.
More than 57,000 South Koreans entered a lottery for the chance to meet their loved ones, which for many will most likely be the last time they will ever see each other.
For two emotional hours, South Korean Lee Keum-seom, 92, held her son’s hand and gazed into his eyes for the first time in more than 65 years.
Her son, Ri Sang-hol, a 71-year-old, looked not much younger than his mother having spent more than six decades in the North since the war ended in 1953.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
The pair were separated during the chaos of the fighting and became trapped on either side of the demilitarised zone (DMZ) which splits the two Koreas.
Mother and son had not seen each other, or communicated in any way, until yesterday. South Korean Han Shin-ja, 99, met her North Korean daughters Kim Kyong-sil, 72, and Kim Kyong-young, 71, both wearing traditional Korean hanbok dresses.
All three were overcome with emotion. Jo Hye-do, 86, and Jo Do-jae, 75, from the south met their North Korean sister Jo Soon-do, 89, at the meeting in the North’s Mount Kumgang resort on the southeastern coast.
The reunited family members are only allowed to spend 11 hours together over three days before being separated once again.
The event, which is facilitated by the Red Cross, is the outcome of a historic meeting between North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the border in April.
The two leaders met again in May, where they agreed to resume family reunions.