South Korea says it will begin producing Korean-language Internet television and radio broadcasts later this month, aimed at raising public interest in the unification of North and South Korea.

The Yonhap news agency said its Internet broadcasting operation will begin September 26 with video content about unification issues. Yonhap says the Unification Ministry plans to produce weekly news reports and sitcom episodes about the latest unification developments.

An Internet radio channel also is set to begin broadcasting interviews with North Korean defectors.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has made reunification with the North a priority. He said earlier this year that merging the Koreas will, in his words, “not take such a long time.”

The Korean peninsula has remained divided since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

Last month, the president replaced his hardline cabinet minister in charge of North-South rapprochement with a new reunification chief who has pledged more flexibility in his dealings with the North.

New appointee Yu Woo-ik said he will maintain existing policies on North Korea, but will look for ways to substantially improve relations with Pyongyang.

North-South tensions have increased in recent years because of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program and a deadly maritime border dispute.

Relations eased somewhat recently when North Korea signaled it was ready to return to six-party negotiations on dismantling its nuclear program in return for foreign aid.