Hundreds of Koreans will participate this week in highly emotional but brief reunions with relatives most haven't seen since the 1950-53 Korean War cemented the division of their peninsula into the North and South.
Many of the elderly family members at the reunions, which will be held at the North's scenic Diamond Mountain resort starting on Monday, know that given the fickle nature of ties between the rival Koreas, it could be their last meeting before they die.
A South Korean separated familie Lee Geum-sum (91,C) waits with her family to go to North Korea to meet their North Korean family. Source: AAP
One of them, Lee Soo-nam, was eight when his 19-year-old brother was drafted by the invading North Korean army and hasn't been seen for 68 years.
"I'm nervous. I'm still unsure whether this is a dream or reality. I just want to thank him for staying alive all these years," Lee said.
The brothers, now 76 and 85, will be among hundreds of Koreans who will participate in the temporary reunions of divided families.
Many have had no contact with each other since the war cemented the division of the peninsula into the North and South.
Both Koreas have banned ordinary citizens from visiting relatives on the other side of the border or contacting them without permission. Nearly 20,000 people have participated in 20 rounds of face-to-face reunions since 2000. No one has had a second chance to see their relatives.
This week's reunions come after a three-year hiatus during which North Korea tested three nuclear weapons and multiple missiles that demonstrated the potential of striking the continental US.
At past meetings, elderly relatives - some relying on wheelchairs or walking sticks - have wept, hugged and caressed each other in a rush of emotions.
According to Seoul's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, more than 500 separated South Koreans and their family members will cross the border for two separate rounds of reunions between August 20 and 26.
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