The two Koreas will exchange the final lists of separated families this week for a rare reunion to take place later this month, the Korean Red Cross said Sunday, as cross-border tensions are still high due to North Korea's threat to launch a long-range rocket.

The final lists of 100 families from each country will be exchanged at the truce village of Panmunjom on Thursday, so the families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War can be reunited at the scenic Mount Kumgang resort, located on the North's east coast, on Oct. 20-26, a Red Cross official said.

The event is part of the two Koreas' deal reached on Aug. 25 to ease inter-Korean military tensions.

North Korea, however, said last Tuesday that the upcoming reunions have been jeopardized, citing President Park Geun-hye's speech to the U.N. General Assembly on the previous day.

Park called for North Korea's reform and openness, urging Pyongyang to refrain from test-firing a long-range rocket and improve its human rights record.

Reports have said North Korea might launch a long-range rocket in time with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the North's Workers' Party, which falls on Oct. 10.

The Korean Red Cross has already selected 250 candidates out of 500 applicants, based on health conditions and willingness to join the reunions. The North also handed over a list of 200 applicants for the reunions.

More than 66,000 South Koreans await reunion with their relatives in the North. It is one of the most pressing humanitarian issues in the two Koreas as most members of separated families are in their 80s or older.

More than 129,700 people in separated families have applied for family reunions over the years, but about half have already died. (Yonhap)