North Korean authorities have recently resumed efforts to locate families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War and are providing them with special food rations.

This has led to speculation that Pyongyang is seeking to restart cross-border family reunions to mark the 70th anniversary of Korean independence from Japan.

A source on Sunday said the search for people with relatives in the South has resumed at the orders of the Workers Party, and they are being given monthly rations of rice, eggs, cooking oil, meat, liquor and fabric.

North Korean authorities apparently also gave them badges with the images of nation founder Kim Il-sung and former leader Kim Jong-il.

"The move seems aimed at making sure separated family members look healthy and well-nourished before they attend the family reunions," the source said. "They need to be fed for a couple of months at least."

In the past the regime brought candidates to Pyongyang around two weeks prior to the reunions in order to feed them properly and give them ideological training.

The government here said recently that it hopes to restart reunions soon.

