China on Tuesday welcomed an agreement by South and North Korea to hold a reunion next month for families separated by the Korean War.

Following overnight talks, Red Cross representatives from Seoul and Pyongyang agreed earlier in the day to hold reunions from Oct.

20 to 26. The last reunions were held early last year.

Asked about the agreement, China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei replied, "We have noted these reports and welcome the decision made by the two sides to hold family reunions."

"We hope that North Korea and South Korea can improve relations through dialogue and negotiations, promote reconciliation and cooperation and jointly safeguard peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," Hong said.

The agreement came weeks after South and North Korea averted a military confrontation that was sparked by an exchange of artillery fire over the Demilitarized Zone that divides the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)