The second round of inter-Korean family reunions begins on this Friday… following the first three-day session that took place earlier this week.
Our Kan Hyeong-woo is in Sokcho where the South Korean families will take leave for the Mount Kumgang resort in the coming hours.
So Hyeong-woo, walk us through what's on the agenda for today.
Well Mark, the day is once again finally here for the war-separated families to reunite. The South Korean participants gathered here on Thursday to register and they were instructed on the do's and don'ts while in the North.
The 326 South Korean relatives of the 81 North Korean participants will be getting on the buses within the next two hours.
They will enter North Korea through the customs, immigration, and quarantine office of Goseong.
They are expected to arrive at Mount Kumgang before 1 PM, Korea time, around six hours away from now.
After having an individual lunch, they will finally be able to meet their relatives for the first time in several decades.
They will have two hours from 3 to 5 PM to catch up,… asking each other how they've lived, where they live now, and so much more.
After the first gathering, they will meet once more for the welcoming banquet hosted by South Korea to end their first night in the North.
Many were worried about the weather as the eye of Typhoon Soulik was forecast to sweep through the city of Gangneung which is only about 60 kilometers south from here… at around 9 AM when the buses are supposed to leave.
But according to the latest prediction by the Korea Meteorological Administration, at around 9 AM Typhoon Soulik is now expected to be passing through the city of Chungju which is about 200 kilometers south of here.
Seoul's Unification Ministry says it will closely monitor the weather conditions and make sure that safety comes before anything else. Back to you Mark.
