South Korea’s unification minister called on North Korea to help arrange reunions of families separated by the division of the peninsula regardless of “political and security” tensions, emphasizing that many elderly family members have already passed away.

Kim Yung-ho’s speech to mark the Lunar New Year came as new data showed over 70% of South Koreans registered to meet North Korean family members have died as of late last year without reuniting with their relatives.

“The average age of separated family members is 83, and about 3,000 pass away each year without setting foot in their hometown,” the minister said,