Sokcho, South Korea - Aug 20, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Elderly South Korean in wheelchair being pushed towards bus
2. Various of buses leaving, elderly South Koreans on bus waving at camera

Washington D.C., USA - Aug 19, 2018 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jenny Town, research analyst, Stimson Center (starting with shot 2/ending with shots 4-8):
"There is so much emotional value to having this reunion. This is the first generation of the very nuclear families that have been separated for [almost] 70 years and really remember what it was like before that separation as well. So for them to have this opportunity to see their family members is so important to them, especially as they get older, especially as they wonder what happens to their family members."

Sokcho, South Korea - Aug 19, 2018 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Senior woman in wheelchair entering hotel, being pushed by Red Cross staff
5. Registration desk for South Koreans heading north to meet their separated family members
6. Members of separated families registering at desks
7. Various of elderly woman seated on sofa, talking to reporter off scene
8. Various of elderly man holding photos of family members
9. Various of luggage

Washington D.C., USA - Aug 19, 2018 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Jenny Town, research analyst, Stimson Center (ending with shot 11):
"I think there is still a long way off before we have sort-of institutionalized, frequent visits. I think it's unfortunate given the age of these family members. But a lot has to happen in terms of really developing the political relationship in order to make this happen."

FILE: Panmunjom Village, South Korea - April 27, 2018 (Host Broadcaster - No access Chinese mainland/ROK/No archive)
11. DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un (L), ROK President Moon Jae-in (R) shaking hands, posing for photos during first summit

FILE: Seoul, South Korea - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
12. Various of Gwanghwamun Square

Washington D.C., USA - Aug 19, 2018 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jenny Town, research analyst, Stimson Center:
"Both sides are somewhat eager to restart and create economic cooperation but are really faced with a dilemma about what to do with sanctions, UN sanctions and US sanctions. For the South Korean side, how not to violate those sanctions and try to move forward and there is not a lot of leeways there right now."

FILE: Seoul, South Korea - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
14. Statue of King Sejong
15. Traffic

FILE: Pyongyang, DPRK - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
16. Kim Il Sung Square
17. Grand People's Study House

To regularize the family reunion visits, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should invest more efforts to develop the political relationship, an expert said at an exclusive live interview with the CGTN on Sunday.

A group of elderly from ROK are in DPRK meeting their long-separated relatives. This is the first cross-border reunion for three years, which is the outcome of a historic meeting between the top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and ROK President Moon Jae-in at the border in April.

Jenny Town, an expert on DPRK-ROK relations, said it is of great emotional value to have this reunion. Town is the managing editor of the web journal "38 North", and a research analyst at the Stimson Center -- a think-tank working to enhance international peace and security.

"This is the first generation of the very nuclear families that have been separated for [almost] 70 years and really remember what it was like before that separation as well. So for them to have this opportunity to see their family members is so important to them, especially as they get older, especially as they wonder what happens to their family members," said Town.

Since the year, nearly 20,000 people from ROK and DPRK have participated in 20 rounds of face-to-face reunions.

With the top-level cross-border meeting in April and this latest reunion, the tension on the Korean Peninsula is seemingly eased recently. However, there is still a long way to go before building up the mechanism for institutionalized and frequent reunion visits, said Town.

"I think there is still a long way off before we have sort-of institutionalized, frequent visits. I think it's unfortunate given the age of these family members. But a lot has to happen in terms of really developing the political relationship in order to make this happen," said Town.

A third summit between ROK and DPRK is planned for September in Pyongyang. From Town's point of view, there are still many barriers to be tackled for further cooperation.

"Both sides are somewhat eager to restart and create economic cooperation but are really faced with a dilemma about what to do with sanctions, UN sanctions and US sanctions. For the South Korean side, how not to violate those sanctions and try to move forward and there is not a lot of leeways there right now," said Town.