대한적십자사 "남북 적십자회담 개최 제의"no
It's a busy start to the week in terms of news related to inter-Korean relations.
South Korea has also just proposed restarting reunions of families separated by the Korean War.
For more details, we connect live with our Kim Hyesung at the headquarters of the Korean Red Cross in Seoul.
Hyesung...
Hi Mark, the Korean Red Cross proposed this morning to start meetings for the reunion of separated families, saying it's a humanitarian issue that comes before politics.
"The Korean Red Cross proposes holding a meeting at Panmunjom's Peace House on August 1st to address humanitarian issues, including the reunion of separated families in light of the Chuseok holiday."
The Korean Red Cross said three members from the South, including Secretary General of the organization Kim Gunn-Joong will attend the meeting.
The Korean Red Cross asked its counterpart from the North to reply through the Panmunjom Red Cross office.
As with the military talks proposal,... this is also seen as a follow up measure to President Moon Jae-in's Berlin Declaration, in which he also suggested restarting reunions of separated families in light of Chuseok, Korea's Thanksgiving Day, on October 4th.
Following the Korean Red Cross' announcement,... South Korea's Unification Ministry said holding reunions of separated families and inter-Korean military talks are critical to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula.
It added that with most of the 60,000 South Koreans still waiting for a chance to meet their family members over age 80, and more than 3,000 of them passing away every year, it is urgent to hold reunion meetings.
If the North accepts, it will be the first time since 2015 to hold such talks.
But it remains to be seen whether the North will accept the proposal as it's still demanding South Korea repatriate twelve female North Koreans who defected to the South last year.
Back to you, Mark.
