South and North Korea have agreed to hold performances of a joint symphony orchestra.

Leader of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Maestro Chung Myung-whun told a news conference on Friday that the Seoul orchestra and the North’s Korean Association for Art Exchange agreed to hold performances of a joint symphony orchestra in Seoul and Pyongyang. Chung added that the two sides signed a letter of intent to that effect during his four-day trip to the North.

Chung expressed hope that the joint orchestra will play Beethoven’s Symphony Number 9, the choral, in December.

The maestro added that the South will run a program to foster promising North Korean musicians and seek to provide education for young musicians in the North for two weeks every year.

Chung returned on Thursday after visiting the North as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. During his four-day stay, he watched a performance of the North’s symphony orchestra and discussed the joint performance with North Korean officials.