A limited number of families from South and North Korea will be reunited at Mount Kumgang in North Korea this week. More than 132,000 people have registered with the Korean Red Cross to enter the lottery for family reunions since 1998. Fewer than 100 family members from each country were selected to participate in the August 20-26 reunions, where they will be permitted to meet with family members for mere hours. South Korea has the capacity to host family reunions every weekend, but North Korea consistently uses the reunions as a bargaining chip in negotiations and as a litmus test for the health of inter-Korean ties. Family reunions are being held just prior to the third inter-Korean summit this year, expected to be held in September.

Source: Forbes August 20, 2018 16:29 UTC