North, South Korean relatives reunited

(Vatican Radio) Elderly North and South Koreans, who had been separated for sixty years, began a series of reunions on Thursday. Children were being reunited with parents, brothers and sisters with their siblings, even spouses were able to embrace for the first time since the war in the 1950’s.

Roughly 80 elderly South Koreans traveled with their families Thursday through falling snow to North Korea's Diamond Mountain to reunite with relatives, while the South Korean government said it expected about 180 North Koreans.

One of those participating in the reunions, Lee Du-young, told the BBC he and his elder brother were separated early on in the conflict. “The last time I saw my brother was right after the Korean war broke out,” he explained, adding, “I’m packing my bags.” Listen:

The six days of family reunions are taking place after the North called for improved relations between the sides, following a serious spike in tensions. They also come in the wake of a U.N. report on human rights abuses in North Korea, which investigators have said are comparable to Nazi-era atrocities.

The North rejects the report.