This sign along the 240km-long demilitarized zone between North and South Korea reads "Hurrah for the Sun of the 21st Century, General Kim Jong Il -- and Save the Asiatic Black Bear."

OK, so I made that last bit up -- but the decision by North and South Korea to end their propaganda broadcasts across the DMZ means that some of the rarest animal species in the world can look forward to a better night's sleep.

In an unusual example of war having a positive impact, the tight security along the 38th parallel have made it an important wildlife refuge on the environmentally-ravaged peninsula.

Articles on the subject here and here.