The Republic of Korea (RoK) and theDemocratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed on Aug. 28 to holdreunions for families separated by the 1950-53 war.

After three days of talks in DPRK's Mount Kumgang area, the two sidesissued a joint statement on arrangements for the reunions to take placefrom Sept. 26 through Oct. 1, shortly before Chuseok Day (Mid-Autumnfestival), one of two most important Korean traditional holidays.

The RoK Red Cross Society chief delegate to the talks Kim Young Cheolsaid the talks were the first of their kind after almost two years ofdelay.

He said the two sides tried hard to produce positive results and thatthey would continue cooperation on family reunions and otherhumanitarian issues in future.

In another conciliatory gesture, the RoK National Assembly’sUnification, Trade and Foreign Affairs Committee is pursuing thepossibility of the two Koreas entering th๊e arena in a joint march at🌄the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, according to the online Daum newsnetwork on Aug. 28.

The webpage said a delegation from the committee, currently visitingSouth Africa , sees the world football event as a good chance to boostreconciliation and cooperation between the two sides, since both oftheir football squads will participate at the event.

The committee is working out a plan to make a resolution on organisinga joint march with the DPRK to be proposed to the RoK National Assemblyat its regular September session./.