Reunions End

[Anchor Lead]

The first reunions of families separated by the Korean War in nearly three years have drawn to a close. The families made their tearful farewells to loved ones at North Korea’s Mount Kumgang Resort, knowing it’s likely they will never meet again.

[Pkg]

Three days and two nights passed in the nick of time. It's already time to say goodbye. It's a heart-wrenching moment for everyone. Poets from South and North Korea who participated in the reunions expressed their sadness through poems. A cousin whom this poet saw for the last time when he was four still remembers her face vividly. The blue sky in your eyes And the cute smile in your dimples Are as beautiful as ever Jong-joo, my dear sister Ryang Cha-ok from the North delivered a poem about her mother, whom she misses so much, to her sisters. A man from the North presents his watch to his younger cousin to express hope that they will meet again someday.

[Soundbite] Lee Young-ho(50, S. Korea) : "My brother gave me his watch to wish me well until our nation reunites."

It's time to board the buses.

[Soundbite] Shim In-ja(76, S. Korea) : "We had waited for 70 years to meet."

[Soundbite] Yoon Byung-seok(91, N. Korea) : "The unification is not far away."

The relatives are heart-broken to say goodbye. The family members from the South make deep bows to their long-lost kin from the North, who keep waving their hands through the windows of the bus, which soon departs.