Resolution to Korean propoganda broadcast controversy

Greetings from the National Council of Churches in Korea,

After 4 days of consecutive talks between South and North, 4 high-level government officials came up with the following agreement which we are all waiting for.

In a statement issued by the NCCK, we expressed sincere appreciation to the patient work by government officials to achieve a peaceful solution through the tense meetings. We also declared that “this agreement would be a cornerstone through which the new era will open for true reconciliation and reunification in the Korean peninsula.” We also expressed our heartfelt appreciation to all our partner churches around the world for their continuous concerns and prayers.

Here is a summary of the deal between South and North Korea:

1. The north and the south agreed to hold talks between their authorities in Pyongyang or Seoul at an early date to improve the north-south ties and have multi-faceted dialogue and negotiations in the future.
2. The north side expressed regret over the recent mine explosion that occurred in the south side’s area of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), wounding soldiers of the south side.
3. The south side will stop all loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts along the MDL from 12:00, August 25 unless an abnormal case occurs.
4. The north side will lift the semi-war state at that time.
5. The north and the south agreed to arrange reunions of separated families and relatives from the north and the south on the occasion of the Harvest Moon Day this year and continue to hold such reunions in the future, too and to have a Red Cross working contact for it early in September.
6. The north and the south agreed to vitalize NGO exchanges in various fields. (Yonhap News Agency)