The 16th round of inter-Korean family reunions will not include any family members of South Korean abductees or prisoners of war.

The Unification Ministry said that over 90 families from each side will meet during the six-day reunions that begin Wednesday.

A ministry official said there were some 20 special case applicants seeking reunions with either POWs or abductees, but the North said their whereabouts were unknown.

This week’s reunion will be the first since 2000 not to include such special cases. That was the year when the two Koreas agreed to include them with the regular separated family reunions.