Seoul angered over North Korea’s demolition of venue for separated families
Seoul’s unification ministry, which handles affairs between the two Koreas, urged in a statement North Korea to immediately stop the action at the site near the border.
The demolition of the facility was an “anti-humanitarian act that tramples on the wishes of separated families”, the ministry said, adding that it would consider legal measures over the action and a joint response with the international community.
Since 1988, around 130,000 South Koreans have registered their “separated families”.
As of 2025, around 36,000 of those individuals are still alive, according to official data.
Seventy-five per cent say they do not know if their relatives are alive or dead.
Some were lucky enough to be chosen to take part in occasional cross-border reunions, mostly hosted at the Mount Kumgang resort.