SEOUL, Dec. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will maintain an analog TV signal system for broadcasts sent to North Korea so residents there can continue to view programs made by local stations, a government official said Tuesday.

   A government official, who did not want to be identified, said a meeting of related agencies was held recently, with participants agreeing to maintain an analog system for TV transmissions across the border.

   North Koreans are banned from seeing South Korean TV, but defectors have claimed that the proliferation of foreign-made television sets and lack of any effective means to check on the private lives of people have allowed some to gain access to the South's programming.

   The decision comes as Seoul has switched to a digital broadcasting regime to reflect advances in media technology. The North, however, has not been able to make similar changes.

   The official said concerns were raised that if Seoul halted analog transmissions altogether, people in the North would no longer be able to see programs from the South.

   yonngong@yna.co.kr
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