South Korea's parliament on Thursday passed a resolution calling for the reunions of families separated across the inter-Korean border in time for Liberation Day in August.
The reunions of families, mostly divided since the 1950-53 Korean War, have not been held since October 2015 amid heightened tensions caused by Pyongyang's unceasing provocations, including two nuclear tests last year.
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Lawmakers attend a parliamentary plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 22, 2017. (Yonhap) |
"The reunions of the families are the starting point for joint efforts to restore mutual trust and improve bilateral relations, and this is a humanitarian issue that goes beyond ideologies," Rep. Shim Jae-kwon of the ruling Democratic Party said during the National Assembly's plenary session. He chairs the parliamentary foreign affairs committee.
The legislature also passed a revision to the Political Fund Act, which revives each political party's fund-raising role. This role was abolished in 2006 after a party was embroiled in a massive illicit funding scandal. Following the abolition, each party had received funds through the National Election Commission.
Under the revised act, each party can raise up to 5 billion won ($4.38 million) a year from individual supporters, who can each donate up to 5 million won a year. Corporate bodies are still banned from making any political donations. (Yonhap)
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