N. Korea sends gift of pine mushrooms following historic summit
- 6 years ago
북한 송이버섯 2톤, 남한 미상봉 이산가족에게 전달
The leaders of the two Koreas have typically exchanged gifts when they've met, and this time was no different.
Of particular note this time -- a gift from Kim Jong-un to President Moon of two tons of pine mushrooms -- a delicacy on the Korean Peninsula.
President Moon is giving the mushrooms to South Koreans separated from their relatives in the North.
Seo Eun-kyung reports.
President Moon's senior press secretary, Yoon Young-chan, said Thursday that the two tons of pine mushrooms arrived in the South in the morning, ahead of President Moon.
They'll be distributed to South Koreans who haven't had a chance to meet their relatives in the North since the Korean War ended 65 years ago.
Four thousand people have been selected, each of whom will get 500 grams of mushrooms in time for Chuseok, Korea's thanksgiving holiday, which starts this Sunday.
Preference was given to the most elderly of the people with family up North.
North Korea has given pine mushrooms to South Korean leaders before, in fact.
In 2000 and 2007, the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il presented pine mushrooms to the South to commemorate his summits with then Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.
In 2000, Chairman Kim sent three tons of pine mushrooms to the South... three months after the first inter-Korean summit.
During the inter-Korean summit of 2007, Kim Jong-il presented President Roh Moo-hyun with four tons of mushrooms.
Pine mushrooms are a high-protein, low-calorie food, and are excellent remedies for adult diseases. They're harder to grow than other mushrooms, making them more valuable.
The price of pine mushrooms differs according to size and quality, but recently in Korea, ahead of Chuseok, one kilogram was going for about eight hundred U.S. dollars. They're mainly sold in department stores.
President Moon said he hopes the mushrooms from the North can bring some small consolation to those longing for their loved ones across the border.
Seo Eun-kyung, Arirang News.
The leaders of the two Koreas have typically exchanged gifts when they've met, and this time was no different.
Of particular note this time -- a gift from Kim Jong-un to President Moon of two tons of pine mushrooms -- a delicacy on the Korean Peninsula.
President Moon is giving the mushrooms to South Koreans separated from their relatives in the North.
Seo Eun-kyung reports.
President Moon's senior press secretary, Yoon Young-chan, said Thursday that the two tons of pine mushrooms arrived in the South in the morning, ahead of President Moon.
They'll be distributed to South Koreans who haven't had a chance to meet their relatives in the North since the Korean War ended 65 years ago.
Four thousand people have been selected, each of whom will get 500 grams of mushrooms in time for Chuseok, Korea's thanksgiving holiday, which starts this Sunday.
Preference was given to the most elderly of the people with family up North.
North Korea has given pine mushrooms to South Korean leaders before, in fact.
In 2000 and 2007, the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il presented pine mushrooms to the South to commemorate his summits with then Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.
In 2000, Chairman Kim sent three tons of pine mushrooms to the South... three months after the first inter-Korean summit.
During the inter-Korean summit of 2007, Kim Jong-il presented President Roh Moo-hyun with four tons of mushrooms.
Pine mushrooms are a high-protein, low-calorie food, and are excellent remedies for adult diseases. They're harder to grow than other mushrooms, making them more valuable.
The price of pine mushrooms differs according to size and quality, but recently in Korea, ahead of Chuseok, one kilogram was going for about eight hundred U.S. dollars. They're mainly sold in department stores.
President Moon said he hopes the mushrooms from the North can bring some small consolation to those longing for their loved ones across the border.
Seo Eun-kyung, Arirang News.