Korea: Reunion of Korean-Americans with Family in DPRK

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

Question Taken at the August 11, 2011 Daily Press Briefing

Question: Would the U.S. support face-to-face meetings between North Korean families who fled to the U.S. during the war and are still living here and their family members still in the DPRK?

Answer: The United States would welcome efforts to reconnect Korean-Americans separated from their family members in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) since the end of the Korean War.

As part of their humanitarian mission, the American Red Cross facilitates reconnecting families around the globe, and this would potentially include Korean-Americans with relatives in the DPRK. We refer you to the American Red Cross for more details on their Restoring Family Links services.

DPRK: Divided Families

(Taken Question for Mark C. Toner, Office of the Spokesperson)

Question: Does the State Department have any comment on the possibility of a letter exchange between a small number of North Koreans and their family members living in the United States? Can the Department confirm that a letter exchange will occur? What details do we have about the agreement?

Answer: The United States remains concerned about the issue of Korean-Americans separated from their family members in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) since the end of the Korean War. We continue to do all that we can to raise this issue in relevant fora.

We regularly meet with the American Red Cross to discuss possibilities and modalities to reconnect Korean-Americans with relatives in the DPRK. As part of their humanitarian mission, the American Red Cross facilitates reconnecting families around the globe. We refer you to the American Red Cross for more details on their Restoring Family Links services.