S Korea not to link humanitarian issues to politic

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South Korea will not link humanitarian issues to political ones in dealing with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK),[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Seoul's unification minister told parliament Tuesday.
"Humanitarian matters will not be associated with political ones," minister Hyun In-taek said during the parliamentary audit of the ministry, referring to outstanding humanitarian issues between Seoul and Pyongyang. "We will continuously urge North Korea (DPRK) to fundamentally resolve humanitarian issues,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], including regularizing the reunions."
His remarks came when the South Korea and DPRK are set to hold reunion events from Oct. 30 to Nov. 5 for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
Family reunions were last held in September 2009, the 16th such meetings. More than 80,000 South Koreans are presumed to be waiting for a rare chance for rendezvous with their families north of the border.
The rendezvous are expected to warm inter-Korean relations that fell to a level unseen in years following the fatal March sinking of a South Korean warship blamed on the DPRK's alleged torpedo attack. Observers say recent peace overtures are hinting at a willingness on the part of both sides to reduce instability on the peninsula.