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North and South Korea in second night of talks | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Top-level talks between North and South Korea to defuse a border stand-off have continued for a second night, officials from the South say. | |
The first session of talks lasted 10 hours, finishing just before dawn on Sunday. No details have emerged. | |
Senior aides to the two countries' leaders are meeting at the Panmunjom truce village on the border. | Senior aides to the two countries' leaders are meeting at the Panmunjom truce village on the border. |
The talks started before a deadline set by North Korea for the South to stop broadcasting anti-communist propaganda. | |
It wants banks of loudspeakers, which have been blasting news bulletins, weather forecasts and music from the South to be dismantled. | |
Pyongyang had threatened to open fire if Seoul failed to comply and moved artillery into positions to fire on the speakers. | |
As the second round began on Sunday afternoon, South Korea's military said the North was building up artillery units at the border and deploying submarines. | |
Analysis: Steve Evans, BBC News, Seoul | Analysis: Steve Evans, BBC News, Seoul |
No word has come from the talks which have lasted for more than 12 hours until dawn on Monday on the Korean peninsula. | |
The first night of talks also adjourned shortly before dawn, having lasted 10 hours. | |
The very fact they have talked so long may give some hope of defusing the current highly-armed stand-off. | The very fact they have talked so long may give some hope of defusing the current highly-armed stand-off. |
Optimists also draw slight hope from the North Korean use of the proper title for South Korea - Republic of Korea - rather than terms like "war-maniac puppet of the United States" which was used by North Korean state media a few days ago. | Optimists also draw slight hope from the North Korean use of the proper title for South Korea - Republic of Korea - rather than terms like "war-maniac puppet of the United States" which was used by North Korean state media a few days ago. |
While the talks continue, both sides remain poised for aggression. All the same, the tense atmosphere has eased slightly, at least for the moment. | While the talks continue, both sides remain poised for aggression. All the same, the tense atmosphere has eased slightly, at least for the moment. |
No media organisations have been present at the talks, which have taken place inside the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas. | |
South Korea said ahead of the talks that it would be represented by national security adviser Kim Kwan-jin and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, and the North would send senior officials Hwang Pyong-so and Kim Yong-gon. | South Korea said ahead of the talks that it would be represented by national security adviser Kim Kwan-jin and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, and the North would send senior officials Hwang Pyong-so and Kim Yong-gon. |
Mr Hwang is seen by many analysts as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's second-in-command. | Mr Hwang is seen by many analysts as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's second-in-command. |
South Korea has evacuated almost 4,000 residents from border areas and warned that it would "retaliate harshly". | South Korea has evacuated almost 4,000 residents from border areas and warned that it would "retaliate harshly". |
The current state of heightened tension started when two South Korean soldiers were seriously injured by landmines in the DMZ between the two countries. | The current state of heightened tension started when two South Korean soldiers were seriously injured by landmines in the DMZ between the two countries. |
South Korea said North Korea planted the mines; North Korea said that was absurd. | South Korea said North Korea planted the mines; North Korea said that was absurd. |
Both sides say the other then fired the first shot in artillery barrages. | Both sides say the other then fired the first shot in artillery barrages. |
US and South Korean fighter jets have been flying in formation near the border. | US and South Korean fighter jets have been flying in formation near the border. |
The US's top military officer has reaffirmed his country's "unwavering commitment" to South Korea's defence in a phone call to his South Korean counterpart. | The US's top military officer has reaffirmed his country's "unwavering commitment" to South Korea's defence in a phone call to his South Korean counterpart. |
The two Koreas remain technically at war, because the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. | The two Koreas remain technically at war, because the 1950-1953 conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. |
Loudspeakers and psychological warfare | Loudspeakers and psychological warfare |
In 2004, South Korea and North Korea reached an agreement to dismantle their propaganda loudspeakers at the border. | In 2004, South Korea and North Korea reached an agreement to dismantle their propaganda loudspeakers at the border. |
The broadcasts were part of a programme of psychological warfare, according to South Korean newspaper Korea Times, to deliver outside news so that North Korean soldiers and border-area residents could hear it. | The broadcasts were part of a programme of psychological warfare, according to South Korean newspaper Korea Times, to deliver outside news so that North Korean soldiers and border-area residents could hear it. |
Mobilising the propagandists in North Korea | Mobilising the propagandists in North Korea |