A half century of unfriendly relations may soon end (Photo: KOREA POOL/Sipa Press/NewsCom)

After more than 50 years of a tense cease-fire, North Korea and South Korea say they are close to agreeing to a permanent peace.

Leaders of both countries met for three days earlier this month in Pyongyang (pie-uhng-yahng), North Korea's capital. North Korean President Kim Jong (yong) Il and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (moo-yawn) signed a statement that said they would work together to end “military hostility and ensure peace . . . on the Korean peninsula.”

The Korean peninsula (see map) has been divided since 1945. The two nations stopped talking after the Korean War, which began on June 25, 1950. During the war, United States troops fought together with other United Nations (UN) troops in support of South Korea, a democratic country. China and the Soviet Union (now Russia) fought for North Korea, a Communist country. Fighting in the Korean War ended in 1953, when the UN and North Korea signed an armistice, or temporary peace agreement. The armistice also set up a demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two countries. However, there was no permanent peace treaty.

World leaders are hopeful a permanent treaty will be signed. In recent years, North Korea has been urged to get rid of deadly nuclear weapons it claims it has. Under the possible treaty with South Korea, North Korea has promised to disable its main nuclear facilities by December 31. In turn, North Korea would get needed fuel and food aid. The two nations also vowed to increase their business ties.