US welcomes agreement on family reunions on Korean Peninsula

The United States on Wednesday welcomed an agreement by Pyongyang and Seoul to resume family reunions, calling it "an example" of improved inter-Korean relations. "We certainly welcome the decision by South Korea and North Korea to set a date for family reunions," State Department spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki told reporters at a regular news briefing. The two neighbors agreed on Wednesday to resume the reunion of separated families on Feb. 20-25 at the North's scenic resort of Mount Kumgang, a program suspended since 2010. "As you know, we support improved inter-Korean relations and this is certainly an example of that," Psaki said. Millions of Koreans were separated by the 1950-53 Korean War which ended in armistice, not a peace treaty. Around 22,000 Koreans had met in the past 18 rounds of family reunions held between 1985 and 2010. Talks on family reunion took place after Pyongyang urged Seoul and Washington to cancel their joint annual military exercises due to begin in late February. South Korea and the United States have rejected the demand, despite warning of dire consequences by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Washington has indicated that, unlike in 2013, it will not send an aircraft carrier or strategic bombers this year for the Key Resolve and the Foal Eagle war games with Seoul, which, Psaki said, are "designed to increase our readiness to defend South Korea once a year, protect the region and maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula."