If North Korea goes ahead with reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, it is going to expect rewards from the South in return, perhaps the reopening of a border tourist spot or even tacit acceptance of an expected missile test.
South Korean President Park Geun-hye wants to build confidence with the unpredictable North under her policy of "Trustpolitik."
But the South is loath to rush back into negotiations as it draws up a strategy for government-level contacts to follow an accord in August that defused the latest confrontation between the old rivals.