ROK to press DPRK for regular family reunion

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) will urge Pyongyang to hold regular reunion for families torn apart by the Korean War, the unification ministry tasked with overseeing cross-border relations said Monday.

The ministry will draw up a blueprint aimed at expanding exchanges between separated families on both sides of the border, the ministry said in a report to the parliament.

The ministry plans to diversify avenues of reunion by expanding letter exchanges and bringing more families together at reunion events.

More than 78,000 people are awaiting a rare chance for family reunion, 80 percent of them are 70 years old or above.

Government-arranged reunions, last held in 2010, were put on hold after the two Koreas clashed over repatriation of DPRK defectors last year.

South Korea is expected to propose inter-Korean Red Cross talks over holding a new round of family reunion, according to local reports.