Letter to the President Donald Trump - Mr. President, Make Family Reunions for Divided Korean American Families a Priority!

Letter

Dear President Trump:

I write again to urge you to prioritize reuniting Korean American families with their loved ones in North Korea when you meet Chairman Kim Jong-un at the second U.S.-North Korea Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam on February 27-28, 2019. While your administration works toward the goal of a final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, it is imperative that you also prioritize helping these families.

In my previous correspondence to you last October, I urged you to make this issue a top priority in your negotiations with North Korea; I have not received a response. As you may know, there are an estimated 100,000 Americans who, since end of the Korean War, have been separated from their families in North Korea. While South Korea and North Korea have held 21 family reunions since 2000, for the Americans in our nation -- there is no pathway for such reunions. Many of these Americans are in their 70s -- 90s, and time is of the essence to be reunited with their families.

Additionally, last month, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun spoke of the challenges and opportunities concerning your administration's approach to North Korea at Stanford University. I am discouraged that Mr. Biegun's speech omitted any reference to helping divided Korean American families. During your upcoming meeting with Chairman Kim, and in your administration's continued engagement with North Korea, I urge you to make divided Korean American families a top humanitarian priority.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

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