South Korea’s Unification Ministry says it wants to work on arranging reunions of separated families as soon as details are fixed with North Korea.  

The ministry also reiterated in a news release Wednesday that Seoul’s stance is not to link issues of resuming tours to the North’s Mount Geumgang and holding family reunions.
 
A ministry official said the two issues are separate and the failure to hold family reunions wouldn't necessarily indicate inter-Korean talks on restarting Mount Geumgang tours couldn't get off the ground.

The official added it would be difficult to hold reunions before the Chuseok thanksgiving holiday in mid-September, given the lack of time to prepare for the event.
 
The comments came as the South Korean government is waiting for the North's response to its suggestion to change the venue for Friday's family reunion talks to the truce village instead of at the Mount Geumgang resort. 

Seoul also asked the North to postpone discussing Mount Geumgang tour issues until September 25.