South Korean officials who visited North Korea to inspect facilities for inter-Korean family reunions slated for August returned to Seoul on Friday.

The 20-member inspection team including officials from the Unification Ministry, Red Cross, Hyundai Asan and its partner firms left for the North Wednesday morning on an eastern land route.

During their three-day stay, the officials inspected the reunion center, a hotel and other related facilities for the family reunions that will take place at the North's Mount Geumgang resort .

Unification Ministry official Kim Byung-dae who led the delegation said that South and North Korean technicians accompanied the inspections which progressed smoothly with active cooperation from North Korea. 

Kim said many facilities are in need of major repairs, noting that the last reunion event was held in October 2015.

He promised all-out preparations for the repairs as well as the reunions, scheduled from August 20th. 

Kim said the government will do its best to minimize any inconvenience or safety issues for the families, who are meeting North Korean kin that they have been separated from since the Korean War. 

He said the repairs will begin soon through discussions with Pyongyang.

[Photo : YONHAP News]