Welcoming Family Meetings on Korean Peninsula, Secretary-General Expresses Hope that More Dialogue Will Help Promote Human Rights, Peace, Stability

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the holding of family reunions between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea that started on 20 October and are set to last until 26 October at Mount Kumgang.  He believes humanitarian measures such as the reunions of separated families should be regularised and not subject to political and security considerations.

The Secretary-General is encouraged by the positive trends related to inter-Korean relations, particularly the “August Agreement”.  He hopes that the recent momentum will pave the way for greater inter-Korean dialogue, people-to-people contact, reconciliation and cooperation.  He further hopes that more dialogue and exchanges will contribute to the promotion of human rights, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.