The two Koreas today reached agreement on the holding of
separated family reunions later this month, appearing to guarantee that the meetings
will go ahead as planned despite upcoming joint ROK-U.S. military exercises.
The two sides reached a three-point agreement at the end of
a second round of talks this week at the inter-Korean truce village of
Panmunjom, according to South Korean chief delegate Kim Kyu Hyun. In addition
to agreeing to go ahead with the family reunions, they also agreed to halt mutual
slander and engage in further dialogue on ways to improve inter-Korean
relations going forward.
Speaking with the
press, Kim called today’s agreement, and the impending separated family
reunions that it appears to guarantee, a “first step in the development
of an inter-Korean relationship founded on trust.”
“With today’s result as a start point, I expect South and North to keep building trust through dialogue,” he added.
No date has been announced for future talks.
