The two Koreas have exchanged lists of 200 potential reunion participants from each side in preparation for a resumption of the reunions of families separated during the Korea War. The lists were exchanged in order to determine whether the proposed participants are living or dead.

The exchange is in line with an agreement on family reunions reached by the Red Cross societies of North and South Korea in a meeting at Mount Geumgang in the North on August 28th.

According to the Unification Ministry, the two sides exchanged the lists in a meeting between their liaison officers at the truce village of Panmunjeom at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

A ministry spokeswoman told a news briefing Tuesday that the government selected the 200 potential participants among 300 candidates after confirming their willingness to meet their North Korean relatives.

The two Koreas agreed in last week’s meeting to hold family reunions from September 26th to October first, prior to the Chuseok holidays.

After the final selection process and security assessments are completed, 100 people from each side will be chosen to take part in the reunions at the North’s Mount Geumgang resort.