UN chief welcomes agreement reached between South, North Korea

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed an agreement reached between South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

After 43 hours of marathon talks, South Korea and DPRK have agreed to defuse the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

According to the six-point agreement, South Korea and the DPRK agreed to hold an inter-governmental dialogue in Seoul or Pyongyang at an earliest possible date to improve inter-Korean relations, and to go ahead with dialogue and negotiations in various areas.

"In particular, I highly appreciate the agreement to hold regular inter-Korean dialogue, and hope that this will serve as a mechanism to effectively manage any problems that may arise on the Korean Peninsula," said a statement made by Ban.

Ban also encouraged humanitarian measures such as reunions of separated families to be regularized without being subject to political and security considerations, according to the statement.

"I further hope that this hard-won momentum for inter-Korean dialogue will lead to the resumption of talks for addressing the nuclear issue," said Ban.

While stressing the importance of the full implementation of the agreement for the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, Ban said he stands ready to support inter-Korean cooperation.

On Saturday, representatives from Pyongyang and Seoul started high-level urgent contact in the truce village of Panmunjom to discuss the prevailing tense situation on the peninsula.

During the talks, the DPRK expressed regrets over landmine blasts, which maimed two South Korean soldiers. Seoul agreed to stop propaganda broadcasts using loudspeakers in front-line areas; while Pyongyang agreed to release the earlier order of a state of war.

The two sides have also agreed to hold a working-level Red Cross contact in early September for the reunion of families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War during the upcoming Chuseok holiday that falls in late September this year.

Before the talks, the situation in the Korean peninslar kept deteriorating which the Pyongyang called as at the brink of war. Enditem