PYONGYANG, Feb. 14 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea had agreed to hold reunions of families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War as scheduled from Feb. 20 to 25, the official news agency KCNA reported Friday.

Following the second round of high-level inter-governmental talks, both sides also agreed to stop making slanderous remarks against each other and boost mutual confidence, the KCNA quoted a brief joint statement as saying.

They agreed to hold another round of high-level inter-governmental talks at a later date and make continuous efforts to improve their relations, according to the statement.

The second round of high-level inter-governmental talks started Friday at the border village of Panmunjom, two days after the first dialogue ended without any specific agreement.

The DPRK delegation was led by Won Dong Yon, deputy head of the United Front Department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. South Korea's chief delegate was Kim Kyou-hyun, deputy director of the presidential national security office.

The two rounds of high-level talks have become the first such talks held since May 2007. Pyongyang initiated the resumption, seeking to prove its sincerity with action toward improved ties with its southern neighbor.