South Korea halted anti-North Korea propaganda broadcasts along the border Tuesday as North Korea lifted the semi state of war of its armed forces in accordance with a rare inter-Korean rapprochement deal.

"North Korea removed as of 12:00 p.m. its order to keep all troops in a semi-war state," a military official said on condition of anonymity. "Our military also stopped front-line anti-North loudspeaker broadcasts along the border altogether at the same time," the official noted.

The Tuesday actions, which followed a breakthrough inter-Korean deal to defuse tension, appear to have put an end to weeks of intense military standoff between the two Koreas.

In retaliation for North Korea's land-mine blasts on the southern side of the demilitarized zone, which separates the two countries, the South launched loudspeaker broadcasts critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Aug. 10.

Offended by the propaganda warfare, the North fired several artillery shells into South Korea on Aug. 20, prompting the South to fire back with dozens of artillery rounds, which sharply heightened military tensions between them.

The North had since declared a "quasi-state of war," bringing both countries to the brink of a full-scale confrontation before a landmark inter-Korean agreement was reached earlier in the day to ease the tension.

Starting on Tuesday, North Korea is expected to pull back its troops and other military weapons deployed to the frontline, Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing, adding that South Korea will also reduce its military alert posture accordingly which had been raised to the highest level amid the tension.

South Korea will not dismantle its loudspeakers at the border since it was not part of the latest inter-Korean agreement, Kim said, suggesting the country may keep the option of propaganda warfare against North Korea.

South Korea will also carry out its two upcoming joint military exercises with the U.S., including Ulchi Freedom Guardian, as planned despite North Korea's criticism, the spokesman said. (Yonhap)