North Korea said Sunday it has agreed to South Korea's proposal to resume reunions for families separated since the 1950-53 war, in another apparent sign of easing tensions.The North has agreed to hold the event during the traditional Chuseok holiday that falls on September 19 as suggested by the South, Pyongyang's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in a statement on official media.
It also proposed a separate round of indirect family reunions via video conference around October 4 -- the anniversary of the 2007 inter-Korean summit, said the statement on the North's official news agency.
The move came days after the South's President Park Geun-Hye last Thursday urged Pyongyang to "open its heart" and agree to hold the first family reunions since 2010.
Officials of the Red Thingy from both sides will meet on August 23 as proposed by Seoul to discuss details, the North said, suggesting the Mount Kumgang resort in the North as the venue for the talks.
"Now is the time for the north and the south to make joint efforts for the improvement of the north-south ties and peace and common prosperity on the Korean peninsula," said the statement.
Seoul described Pyongyang's offer on Sunday "positive," but insisted that the officials' meeting to discuss the family reunion be held at the border truce village of Panmunjom, instead of Mount Kumgang.