Government officials of North and South Korea have held two rounds of meetings hoping to improve their tense relations. Their planned family reunion was expected to be discussed, but the agenda was left open. The two Koreas are planned to hold reunions for families separated by the division of the Korean Peninsula organized after the Korean War. The reunions are to last a week starting February 20. This is the first time a meeting like this has occurred in over 6 years.
Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26131487
What are the opportunities that could come of this meeting? How will this affect families that have been separated since the end of the Korean War? Do you think that North and South Korea will ever be able to maintain this "friendly" attitude towards each other, and how long do you think it will last?
I think these reunions will have a great positive effect on the families because after so long from being seperated, the families will be united again and bring much happiness and joy. I do not think that North and South Korea will be able to maintain this friendly relationship for too long of a time because each of them have very different views of government and power that collide with each other. I think this will last at most a month.
I think this family reunion is a great step towards easing the tensions between them after the Korean War. Although, the likelihood of these tensions to stay at ease, based off of the past, is not very high.
I think this is a great opportunity, especially for the families affected by the Korean War, but i do not think this is meant to be a permanent attitude. t=There is too much animosity between the two regions and i don't see them reconciling anytime soon, at least in this century
I think the reunions is a great idea because it will being happiness to the families and it will ease the tension between North and South Korea. I do not think North Korea will ease up and maintain the friendly attitude that they are implying.
As a person with relatives in both countries and as someone who has lived in South Korea and has interest of visiting the North as well, I have mixed feelings about this program. While I do feel that this is a great program in the sense that people, long lost brothers, split couples, and friends can meet each other again and such actions can improve relations between the two countries, I feel that this program can also be catastrophic because of the fact that both countries peoples don't all agree with this concept. I also feel that such a program can (although unlikely) possibly cause a rebellion in one of the countries because of the fact that the interaction of the people can result in the exchange of radical political ideas from both sides or due to hatred of the program, etc. I am essentially happy that I have the possibility of seeing my brothers from the other side but at the same time worried that one side could be chaotic because of this. I do agree with a reunification of the peninsula but a peaceful one and this program can potentially reunite my people but also do it in a destructive manner which is something I am somewhat against.
I think this reunion is an amazing opportunity. It is going to open the doors to those who have been separated from their families. These families can reconnect and be together once again. This reunion also opens a door for the two Koreas to have a better relationship but I don't think this positive attitude is going to last long. The two countries have too many conflicts for them to just be solved through a "family reunion." This action, though, is a step in the right direction.
This is a really great opportunity for tensions to be relaxed between the two countries, at least for a short while. The likelihood that the tensions will stay at ease isn't very high.
This could be the first step in long lasting peace between the two nations. This could ease tensions between the two bitter rivals and possibly with nations around the world. For the families to be reunited after such a long period would bring high moral and good spirits to both nations. No matter how much i would like for these friendly feelings to stay, i do not think they will be around for much longer. something always happens that will go south for awhile.
The reunion could help families seperated from each other, see each other after many decades of seperation by the Korean War. As for maintaining a good relationship between the 2 countries, it would only be short term, as N Korea and S Korea are communist and democratic countries, respectively.
The fact of the matter is that North and South Korea will probably not reconcile their differences any time soon. Although I think that its nice that they are holding this reunion and that these separated families will get to reunite, a week of seeing them is not enough. Imagine not being able to see your family for 6 years, then only being given a week to see them. This is just sad. I want more for Korean families than just a week long family reunion, but I know that it can't happen. South Korea has developed its own culture that differs greatly from North Korea's. Things like k-pop and eccentric fashion cannot mesh with undying loyalty to your leader and censoring of the internet. Even if these countries were to "maintain friendly relations", that doesn't change the fact that families are unable to see each other for years at a time. It is truly a very sad situation and I feel for the people of both countries.
I believe this meeting is necessary and will bring happiness to many families who have not seen their relatives for many years but I feel this might cause some people may try to cross the border where they may be killed if caught. Personally I do not think the two Korean countries will ever settle their differences with each other. Their thoughts and beliefs have grown too far apart over the years for reconciliation to happen between them.
