Separated relatives from North and South Korea hold each other's hands during a reunion event on Aug. 25, 2018, the second day of the second round of the 21st inter-Korean family reunion event at a resort on Mount Geumgang in North Korea. Joint Press Corps

By Jung Da-min

Chuseok, a nationwide autumn holiday, is just around the corner. While many people are expecting to return to their hometowns to spend the holiday with their families, there are those who cannot see their families or visit their hometowns.

The tragedy of separated families since the division of South and North Korea is often forgotten especially when inter-Korean relations are strained.

With North Korea's series of missiles tests since May this year amid the stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang, there is a possibility that this year could be another year that will end without a family reunion event.

Despite the surprise meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on June 30, there has not been much headway with reviving the reunions of separated families. President Moon Jae-in has faced calls from the opposition for regular meetings despite political circumstances. "President Moon should request the North agree to regular meetings of the separated families and exchange of letters," main opposition Liberty Party of Korea (LKP) floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won said during a speech at the National Assembly on July 4, shortly after the Trump-Kim meeting.

The situation has changed completely since last year, when the latest family reunion event arranged at the governmental level between the two Koreas and held at the end of last August. A year ago around this time, inter-Korean relations were witnessing significant improvements following inter-Korean summits held in April and May. Another one was held in September in Pyongyang.