Rival parties welcomed in unison an agreement between the two Koreas to hold family reunions in late October at Mount Geumgang in North Korea.
 
Spokeswoman Shin Ui-jin of the ruling Saenuri Party said in a comment on Tuesday that the party welcomes the inter-Korean agreement reached ahead of the Chuseok holidays and hopes the reunions will serve as a strong catalyst for promoting cooperation.
 
Spokeswoman Yoo Eun-hae of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) told a news briefing that families separated by the Korean War hail the agreement.
 
Yoo said the party hopes the two Koreas will now actively hold governmental talks and expand civilian exchanges after the reunions.
 
Regarding holding family reunions on a regular basis, the ruling party vowed that the political community will provide active support to realize regular reunions. The NPAD said that it was a shame the two Koreas failed to agree on the issue, but was relieved to hear that the two sides agreed to continue talks on the matter.