Vice Unification Minister Uhm Jong-sik says the government adheres to a firm principle that inter-Korean family reunions should continue regardless of political circumstances.

In an event marking the “Day for Inter-Korean Separated Families” on Friday, the vice minister said that no issue is more critical than that of inter-Korean separated families.

To resolve the issue, Uhm stressed that the North should confirm whether separated families are dead or alive and allow correspondence between the families. The vice minister also said that visits to hometowns and free visits should be realized.

Uhm also urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue with Seoul to resolve the issue on humanitarian grounds.