South Koreans leave for North Korea for family reunions

About 430 South Koreans left for North Korea Monday to meet relatives at family reunions between those separated by the border dividing the peninsula, the Unification Ministry said.

The three-day reunions at the North's Diamond Mountain resort that began last week are the 11th round since the divided Koreas agreed to promote peace and reconciliation at an unprecedented summit between their leaders in June 2000. So far, close to 10,000 Koreans have held such reunions.

In this week's reunions, the South Koreans will reunite with 100 North Korean families.

On Sunday, about 150 South Koreans returned from the mountain resort after also holding three-day reunions.

Millions of Korean families were separated following the Korean Peninsula's division in 1945 and the 1950-53 Korean War. There is no direct mail, telephone service or other form of communication between ordinary citizens across the border. AP reported.