South and North Korea have reached a deal to calm a surge in military tensions, with Pyongyang suspending its “semi-war” footing while Seoul agreed to halt cross-border propaganda broadcasts.

韩国与朝鲜已达成一份协议，平息双方军事紧张态势的急剧升级。朝方将中止其“准战争”状态，韩方则同意暂停其对朝宣传广播。

The deal, struck in the early hours of Tuesday morning, came after an intensive round of negotiations that began on Saturday evening.

该协议是周二凌晨达成的。双方从上周六晚开始展开了一轮密集磋商。

No high-level talks had taken place between the Koreas since February last year, as Seoul demanded apologies for previous North Korean attacks, while Pyongyang said the South’s hostile attitude meant discussion was pointless.

双方谈判人员达成的这份简短协议称，朝韩决定在不久的将来在首尔或平壤召开会谈，并继续举行磋商。

But both sides relented in order to avoid the risk of confrontation, after North Korea last week significantly stepped up its military posture and threatened to attack if Seoul did not halt recently launched loudspeaker broadcasts across the border.

朝鲜宣布立即结束“准战争”状态，韩国则表示，“如果没有异常情况发生”，会从周二中午开始停止广播。韩方曾谴责朝方表里不一、在上周末谈判时还在加紧炮兵和潜艇的部署。

In the brief text agreed by the negotiators, they resolved to hold a meeting either in Seoul or Pyongyang in the near future, and to continue holding talks.

朝鲜在周二的协议中并未承认对朝韩军事分界线非军事区南方一侧地雷爆炸致韩国士兵受伤一事负责，尽管它对这次事件表示了“遗憾”。朝韩双方还同意下月举行离散家属团聚活动。

North Korea declared an immediate end to the state of “semi-war”, while South Korea said it would end the broadcasts from midday on Tuesday, “provided no abnormal situation occurs”. Seoul had accused Pyongyang of duplicity in stepping up the deployment of artillery and submarines even while pursuing talks over the weekend.