{{North Korea has postponed a scheduled series of reunions for families separated for six decades since the 1950-53 Korean War, dealing a blow to months of efforts to improve relations between the neighbours.}}<\/p>\n
In a statement on Saturday, the North accused South Korea of \u201cpoisoning dialogue to heighten the conflict\u201d and said \u201cthe reunions will happen when there can be a normal atmosphere for negotiations to be held\u201d.<\/p>\n
Six days of meetings between family members still separated after the war had been due to start on Wednesday in the Mount Kumgang resort, north of the militarised border.<\/p>\n
The reunions would have been the first in nearly three years.<\/p>\n
North Korea also said it was putting off planned talks on resuming tours of Mount Kumgang, suspended after a North Korean guard shot dead a South Korean tourist in 2008. The talks had been set early October.<\/p>\n
There was no immediate comment from the South Korean government.<\/p>\n
Technically at war<\/p>\n
The neighbours remain technically at war as the 1950-53 war ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The conflict left millions of families divided, with travel across the border all but impossible and nearly all forms of communication barred.<\/p>\n
The abrupt announcement upended an easing of tensions in recent months.<\/p>\n
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul told Reuters that authorities in Pyongyang were trying seeking to secure more concessions from the South, a recurring tactic used by the North.<\/p>\n
Concessions on this occasion, he said, were aimed particularly at lucrative tourism to Mount Kumgang.<\/p>\n
“For North Korea, the tours come first and family reunions come later. It is the opposite for South Korea”, he said.<\/p>\n
{Reuters}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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