Secretary-General Welcomes Agreement between Democratic People’s Republic of korea,

 

Republic of Korea to Resume Cross-Border Family Reunions

 

The following statement was issued 29 August by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to resume cross-border family reunions next month for hundreds of Korean families separated since the Korean War.  He hopes that this humanitarian action will continue in the future without interruption.

The Secretary-General is also pleased that the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea released, on Saturday, four crew members of a Republic of Korea fishing vessel who had been detained after accidentally crossing into northern waters.

The Secretary-General is encouraged by the positive momentum in inter-Korean relations.  He hopes that these steps will help create conditions conducive to improving inter-Korean relations and the peaceful resolution of outstanding matters, including the nuclear issue.

The Secretary-General reaffirms his readiness to offer assistance as appropriate.

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For information media • not an official record