N.Korea demands massive aid from south for family reunion concessions
North Korea demanded 500,000 tonnes of rice and 300,000 tonnes from neighbour South Korea – in exchange for concessions over a separated family reunion programme.
According to officials, the demand was made when officials from both sides met in North Korea’s city of Kaesong to discuss the reunions.
"North Korean delegates linked the issue of separated families and the aid, indicating that they could make concessions if rice and fertiliser aid are given," sources were quoted as saying.
A one-off reunion event will start Saturday at the jointly-run Mount Kumgang resort on the North Korean east coast. It is expected to last six days, and will see over 100 people from both countries linked with long-separated family members.
But Seoul wants to hold the emotional events once a month (between March and November), since many elderly people could die before getting a chance for such a meeting and be reunited with their loved ones.
In reaction to the North’s request for aid, South Korean representatives replied that they were not in a position to give an answer and would refer the request to government authorities.
