Backgrounder: Inter-Korea families reunion

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Many families were separated during the Korean War more than five decades ago. About 600,000 South Koreans are believed to have relatives living in the DPRK. Let's takes a look at family reunions between the two sides.

Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, there has been virtually no contact between the citizens of the two countries.

Most families do not know the fate of their relatives on the other side of the border.

In 2000, South Korea's President Kim Dae-jung and DPRK leader Kim Jong-il held an historic summit.

Many family reunions were organized following the summit.

On 16 different occasions numerous groups have been able to meet face-to-face. Also seven rounds of video reunions have been conducted. Some 20,000 Koreans have been reunited.