There have been emotional scenes in North Korea as hundreds of relatives from South Korea were reunited with 100 long-lost relatives from the North.

Many of the participants, mostly aged in their 60s and 70s, were speechless as they embraced their brothers, sisters, parents and children for the first time in more than 50 years.

It's him! I can't see him, but he still has the same voice

A blind South Korean woman hears her brother

The group of 455 South Koreans arrived by ship for the three-day reunion, which is taking place at the picturesque Kumgang Mountain (Diamond Mountain) resort on the northern side of the border.

This is the fifth reunion to take place since the meetings were agreed upon at an historic inter-Korean summit in 2000.

Millions of Koreans were separated after the 1950-1953 Korean War. About eight million South Koreans have relatives living in the North.

Time running out

The two counties remain technically at war, and it is impossible for civilians to telephone or send a letter to relatives on the other side of their heavily-fortified border

The oldest participant in this latest wave of reunions is a 94-year-old man who is set to see his son for the first time in more than 50 years.

A record number of North Koreans have defected this year

Many Koreans wept as they were introduced to relatives that they could barely recognise after so many years.

South Korean sisters Lee Jin-ock and Lee Jin-geum broke down when they saw their father, Lee Kyoo-yom, aged 82.

The sisters have held an annual memorial service for him for the past 30 years, having given him up for dead after he went out shopping and never returned on the outbreak of war in 1950.

Kim Kun-rye, a 67-year-old South Korean grandmother, was blind but could still recognise the voice of her 74-year-old brother after five decades.

"It's him! I can't see him, but he still has the same voice," the blind sister said, hugging her brother and weeping.

Selection lottery

The reunions are an emotional issue for many Koreans as the divided family members are beginning to die of old age or illness.

Red Cross officials in Seoul said three family-reunion applicants had to abandon this trip because of health problems.

South Korea held a lottery among 120,000 candidates to select its family members. It is not known how the North selected its participants.

The reunions are strictly controlled and participants are not allowed to visit their home towns.

Last week Red Cross officials from both sides agreed to set up a permanent reunion centre at the mountain resort.

Another group of 100 South Koreans will leave for Mount Kumgang on Monday to meet relatives.

The latest flurry of reunions is part of a recent thawing of relations between the two countries as the impoverished North reaches out internationally for much needed aid.