Seoul’s Unification Ministry has significantly increased its budget related to reunions of families separated by the Korean War.

The ministry said Tuesday it has allocated eight-point-four billion won, or seven-point-five million U.S. dollars, more than double from this year’s three-point-four billion won.

The increase is partially due to separated families getting older and requiring more support, but funds have also been increased from 200 million won to one-point-one billion won for DNA testing to establish links between separated family members in South and North Korea.

Separately, funds set aside for inter-Korean economic cooperation is set to increase to 248 billion won next year from the current 139 billion won.

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