President Lee says resolving separated families' plight cannot wait

President Lee Jae Myung has declared the situation of families separated by the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 the most urgent matter confronting the two Koreas. He emphasized this during a statement on the fourth Separated Families Day, which was read by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young. Lee delivered this message while he is in New York attending the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Eight years have elapsed since the last reunion, and President Lee stressed that further delays are no longer acceptable. He advocated for the families to have the opportunity to reunite, regardless of their location worldwide. Lee urged both Koreas to put aside animosity and disputes, opting for respect and genuine communication instead. He affirmed that his administration will persistently address this issue, even though inter-Korean relations have reached a stalemate.

Following the president's statement, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young shared a personal insight. Born on the day the Korean War armistice was signed, July 27, 1953, Chung found the coincidence significant. He emphasized that the two Koreas cannot continue to be at war indefinitely. He argued that the armistice should ultimately evolve into a more comprehensive resolution.