Red Cross officials from North and South Korea have begun talks aimed at allowing families divided by the border to begin meeting again.
The BBC reports the reunions have been suspended for almost two years because of worsening ties between the two nations.
This new round of negotiations reflects a recent improvement in relations between the two sides, and reunions could now resume as early as October.
About 100,000 families were separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
The North and South are still technically at war, as a peace treaty was never concluded at the end of the inter-Korean conflict.
There are still no exchanges by post, telephone or e-mail between people living across the heavily fortified border.
North Korea announced this month that it would ease restrictions on cross-border traffic imposed last year.
North Korea was heavily criticised in May for conducting a second nuclear test and a series of ballistic missile launches.
