NKorea agrees to resume family reunions, latest in series of Pyongyang charm offensives

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea has agreed to resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

It's the latest in a series of recent charm offensives from Pyongyang, which was threatening Seoul and Washington with nuclear war almost a year ago.

Seoul has so far been wary, though it welcomed the reunion call Friday. Pyongyang is seen by outside analysts as wanting improved ties to help win aid for its struggling economy. It has previously followed such calls with provocations.

Seoul's Unification Ministry says in a statement that Pyongyang proposed holding the reunions sometime after next week's Lunar New Year's Day.

Seoul earlier this month proposed holding reunions for the first time in more than three years but Pyongyang dismissed it. Pyongyang last year cancelled reunion plans at the last minute.