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North Korea holds rare UN talks North Korea holds rare UN talks
(about 8 hours later)
North Korea and the US-led United Nations Command in South Korea have opened military talks aimed at easing border tensions. North Korea and the US-led United Nations Command in South Korea have held rare military talks on border tensions.
It is their first such meeting in more than six years, the UN Command said. The meeting, which lasted just over 30 minutes, was the first in seven years.
The meeting of generals, held at the border village of Panmunjom, comes two days after the North warned US troops to stop "provocations" on the border. The two sides discussed ways to ease tensions and agreed to further talks, a UN Command statement said.
International concern has risen in recent weeks amid fears North Korea is planning to test-fire a missile. The meeting of generals, held at the border village of Panmunjom, came two days after the North warned US troops to stop "provocations" on the border.
The UN Command described the new military talks as a "positive" move, and said the North had requested the meeting "to discuss tension reduction." It also took place amid international concern that North Korea could be planning to test-fire a long-range missile.
"These talks can be useful in building trust and preventing misunderstanding as well as introducing transparency regarding the intentions of both sides," it said in a statement. Joint exercise
Defensive force A UNC statement said both sides "discussed measures to reduce tensions and introduce transparency".
The UN command has officially remained in place to help defend the South, since the 1950-53 Korean war in which a US-led UN force fought for South Korea against North Korea, which had support from China.South Korea and North Korea have edged closer to a war footing "The UNC welcomed this discussion with North Korea which holds the prospect for building trust and preventing misunderstandings between both sides," it quoted delegation chief, US Air Force Major General Johnny Weida, as saying. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2564241.stm">North Korea's missile programme
It is led by US Gen Walter Sharp. The US stations 28,500 troops in South Korea to back up the South's 680,000-strong military against the North's 1.1 million troops. South Korea's Yonhap news agency, meanwhile, said that the North used the talks to criticise a planned US-South Korea military exercise.
A 4km-wide (2.5 mile) buffer strip known as the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) divides the peninsula. The UNC has officially remained in place to help defend the South since the end of the 1950-53 Korean war and the partitioning of the Korean peninsula.
South Korean and North Korean military officials have held talks several times in recent years at Panmunjom inside the DMZ, most recently in October 2008, with no result. A 4km-wide (2.5 mile) buffer strip known as the demilitarised zone (DMZ) divides the two Koreas, and the US stations 28,500 troops in South Korea to back up the South's 680,000-strong military against the North's 1.1 million troops.
South Korean and North Korean military officials have held talks several times in recent years at Panmunjom, most recently in October 2008, with no result.
The UN Command said Monday's talks were the first at general level between it and the North since 2002.The UN Command said Monday's talks were the first at general level between it and the North since 2002.
The Associated Press quoted a UN command spokesman, Kim Yong-kyu, as saying the talks had been hastily arranged after the North's request.The Associated Press quoted a UN command spokesman, Kim Yong-kyu, as saying the talks had been hastily arranged after the North's request.
Rising tensionsRising tensions
On Saturday, North Korea sent a statement to South Korea's military accusing US forces of "behaving arrogantly" and threatening "resolute counter-action". class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2564241.stm">North Korea's missile programme On Saturday, North Korea sent a statement to South Korea's military accusing US forces of "behaving arrogantly" and threatening "resolute counter-action".
The statement alleged that US forces trespassed across the border line inside the demilitarised zone, which divides North and South Korea. South Korea denied those claims. The statement alleged that US forces trespassed across the border line inside the demilitarised zone. South Korea denied those claims.
Local news reports about Monday's talks said the North was expected to protest against joint US-South Korean military drills, due to be held from next week, as well as US military activities.
Fears of a border clash have grown in recent months after the North scrapped all peace accords with the South and warned of war.Fears of a border clash have grown in recent months after the North scrapped all peace accords with the South and warned of war.
One year into his term of office, conservative President Lee Myung-Bak has cancelled earlier "sunshine" policies which offered unconditional aid to the North. Concerns have also risen since the North's leader, Kim Jong-il, suffered what appeared to be a debilitating stroke last year.
Concerns have also risen since the North's leader Kim Jong-il suffered what appeared to be a debilitating stroke last year.
He has since returned to active rule, issuing a series of bellicose statements, but fears remain about any plans for a successor.He has since returned to active rule, issuing a series of bellicose statements, but fears remain about any plans for a successor.
Recent weeks have been dominated by reports of preparations by the North for a rocket launch, which it defends as part of its legitimate space programme. Recent weeks have also been dominated by reports of preparations by the North for a rocket launch. Pyongyang says it plans to launch a satellite, but its neighbours think it may be planning to test the Taepodong-2 long-range missile.
The new US envoy on North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, is due to visit Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul this week to discuss ways to deter the North from the missile launch and persuade it to restart stalled nuclear disarmament talks.The new US envoy on North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, is due to visit Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul this week to discuss ways to deter the North from the missile launch and persuade it to restart stalled nuclear disarmament talks.
North Korea is banned by a UN Security Council resolution from engaging in any ballistic missile activity.
When it tested the Taepodong-1 missile in 1998, it claimed to have put a satellite in orbit.
In July 2006 it test-fired the three-stage long-range Taepodong-2, but the missile failed shortly after launch.