Eased military tensions softens inter-Korean relations

Relations between Seoul and Pyongyang have begun thawing after the easing of military tensions that had escalated in recent weeks on the issues of landmine blasts and propaganda broadcasts which led to a war of words.

South Korea stopped all propaganda broadcasts in frontline areas from noon Tuesday as agreed upon during the top-level talks between chief military aides to the leaders of the two Koreas, Xinhua cited an official at Seoul's defence ministry as saying.

In return, North Korea also lifted from noon Tuesday the directive it had issued earlier ordering its troops into a state of war.

The South Korean defence ministry said its military will downgrade the alert level, in a gradual manner as it takes time for North Korea to withdraw troops from the front.

The de-escalation of tensions came after Pyongyang put its frontline combined forces into a wartime state on August 21 in protest against the resumed South Korean psychological warfare with loudspeakers in border areas.

South Korea restarted the broadcasts from August 10 in retaliation for the August 4 explosion of landmines, which injured two South Korean soldiers on patrol duty inside the demilitarised zone (DMZ).

Seoul and Pyongyang exchanged artillery firing on Thursday, bringing the heightened tensions to the brink of war. The two sides traded threats and counter-threats, with tensions soaring to high levels.

To lower tensions, chief military aides to President Park Gyun-hae and top North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in the truce village of Panmunjom from Saturday to Tuesday. A six-point agreement was reached after 43 hours of talks.

In the written agreement, North Korea expressed regret over the South Korean soldiers getting injured in the mine explosion.

It was the first time that North Korea has regretted about something in a written agreement with Seoul, which can be seen as an apology.

South Korea agreed to stop all propaganda broadcasts "as far as abnormal situations are not unfolded".

In a ray of hope for future inter-Korean relations, the first point of agreement was to hold talks in Seoul or Pyongyang at an earliest possible date.

The two sides also agreed to continue dialogues and negotiations in various areas to improve ties.

The two Koreas have already agreed to hold a working-level Red Cross contact in early September for reunion of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.