North, South begin talks on family reunion

North and South Korean Red Cross officials kicked off talks yesterday on organising a rare and emotional reunion for families separated by the Korean War.

The discussions at the border truce village of Panmunjom were the product of an agreement the two Koreas reached two weeks ago to end a dangerous military standoff and reduce cross-border tensions.

But given North Korea's past record of manipulating the reunion issue for leverage over the South, there is no guarantee the planned event -- only the second in five years -- will go ahead.

Yesterday's talks were expected to focus on confirming a date and venue for the event, with the most likely outcome a reunion at the North's Mount Kumgang resort sometime in early October.

Millions of people were separated during the 1950-53 conflict that sealed the division between the two Koreas.

Most died without having a chance to see or hear from their families on the other side of the border, across which all civilian communication is banned.

About 66,000 South Koreans are on the waiting list for an eventual reunion, but only several hundred can be chosen each time.