South, North Korea reach agreement to defuse crisis

South and North Korea have reached an agreement to defuse a crisis that had pushed the two rivals to the brink of armed conflict recently.
In this regard both nations have issued a joint statement which includes series of measures.
Key facts

• North Korea has expressed regret and publicly apologised over mine blasts which had occurred earlier in August 2015 in demilitarized zone between both countries.
• The mine had seriously injured two South Korean soldiers on border patrol.
• In retaliation for the mine blasts, South Korea had resumed loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts into North Korea.
• But in joint statement it has agreed to halt loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts into North Korea.
• Both countries also agreed to work towards resumption of reunions for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War in September 2015.
• They also agreed to hold official talks in either capital city Seoul or Pyongyang at a date to be decided.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2015