Since the Korean War ended in 1953, millions of people, including more than 100,000 Americans of Korean origin, have been separated and largely unable to contact their relatives in North Korea.

Pyongyang and Seoul began leading government-sponsored reunions between families on both sides of the DMZ in 2000. Since then, more than 20,000 people from both South and North Korea have participated.

Though a small number of Korean-American families have been able to arrange private meetings with their relatives in North Korea, due to the lack of formal diplomatic relations between the United States and the DPRK there have not