Two Koreas make little progress at preliminary military talks

In their first major contact following the artillery exchange near a disputed maritime border between the two Koreas in November last year, they failed to agree on agenda to be discussed at the proposed high-level talks, according to the ministry.

The nine-hour marathon meeting, wrapped up at 7:10 p.m. local time in the truce village of Panmunjom, was aimed at deciding on the venue, date and agenda of the high-level military talks the two Koreas seek to hold later. Col. Moon Sang-gyun of South Korea and Col. Ri Son-kwon of the DPRK led the delegation from the two sides.

The defense ministry said the talks bogged down as Seoul officials insisted the high-level talks must discuss the DPRK's alleged sinking of a South Korean warship and shelling of an inhabited South Korean island, which met with Pyongyang's objection.

The ministry said the DPRK officials instead suggested discussing "halting military acts" that can be considered as mutual provocations from both sides, such as the two very incidents that altogether killed 50 South Koreans.

Pyongyang has denied its responsibility for the fatal warship sinking and claimed its artillery shelling was for self-defense against South Korean and U.S. forces then engaged in a large-scale drill near the tense border off the west coast of the peninsula; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

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