Korean families reunite after decades apart

Korean families have begun to reunite after decades apart this week.

The rare event, which has seen a string of families separated by the Korean War allowed to travel to the border to meet with each other, is an official ritual organised by Red Cross that occurs only every few years. The last reunion was in February 2014, but after an agreement in August 2015 following a border explosion that drove up tensions between North and South Korea, families were once again brought together.

Thousands register, reports the BBC, but only a few hundred are selected. The meetings are divided into two rounds, with the first group of families meeting for a total of six two-hour sessions between Tuesday 20th and Thursday 22nd October. The second round (another six two-hour sessions with a different group) will take place between Saturday 24th and Monday 26th October.