Family reunions need database system for correct information

When preparing for a reunion of separated families, South and North Korea request each other for identification of family members to confirmthe list of 100 people who will meet up. The results come marked as alive, deceased, or unknown. However, recently there was a case that raised suspicions about whether the data sent by the North is trustworthy.

Kim Yong-bun (67) met with her older brother Kim Yong-deok (87) living in the North on Tuesday for the first time in 65 years in Mt. Kumgang. In February 2014 when she applied for the last reunion held, however, she was informed by the Korean Red Cross that her brother had passed away. Her brother informed as deceased last time has turned out to be alive this time.

"There are many cases where the North provides with inaccurate information, either intentionally or by wrongfully marking `deceased` instead of `unknown,`" said a person who is familiar with the family reunion process. "The North had allegedly informed that the families of former South Korean abductees or captives were `deceased` or `unknown` since they did not want them to meet." According to the South Korean Ministry of Unification, families of 140 former abductees to North Korea applied for family reunion between 2000 and 2014, but the North informed the South that only 46 of them were alive.

Another official said that it is also possible that Pyongyang just marks those who are not confirmed by the deadline as "deceased." This has largely to do with the relatively short period of preparation for such reunion events for separated families, as they are held abruptly rather than on a regular basis. Even this time, only 20 days were given until the deadline of final notice of identification.

In fact, the South also faces difficulties during the process of identification. Sometimes, Korea Red Cross officers have to visit from door to door relying on the address database, after failing to identify the families even under police cooperation. One officer suggested that things could be much more difficult in the North as they lack the database unlike the South. On the other hand, some point out that this may be an excuse since the North is known to take special note of those who have separated families living in the South.

zeitung@donga.com