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Koreas set to hold military talks N and S Korea hold military talks
(about 5 hours later)
North and South Korea are set to hold military talks, renewing official lines of contact between the two governments that have been frozen for months. North and South Korea have discussed military issues at the first official meeting since the South's president, Lee Myang-Bak, took office in February.
Relations have been in deep freeze since South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak took office in February. A South Korean official was quoted as saying little progress had been made.
Pyongyang dubbed the conservative leader a "pro-American sycophant" and severed diplomatic contact. Relations between the two states, which technically remain at war, are strained by the North's nuclear programme.
Thursday's meeting coincided with a visit to North Korea by the US envoy Christopher Hill, who is trying to salvage a nuclear disarmament deal.
Difficult neighbours
The talks come at a time of heightened tension, with the North threatening to restart its nuclear reactor.The talks come at a time of heightened tension, with the North threatening to restart its nuclear reactor.
Mr Lee's predecessors spent the best part of a decade trying to bring their isolated, communist neighbours in from the cold, establishing links in tourism and trade.Mr Lee's predecessors spent the best part of a decade trying to bring their isolated, communist neighbours in from the cold, establishing links in tourism and trade.
But President Lee said if it was to continue on his watch, then North Korea must show progress towards giving up its nuclear weapons and improving its human rights record.But President Lee said if it was to continue on his watch, then North Korea must show progress towards giving up its nuclear weapons and improving its human rights record.
So Pyongyang's request for military talks this week has surprised many observers, although it is not yet clear what will be discussed. In return Pyongyang dubbed the conservative leader a "pro-American sycophant" and severed diplomatic contact.
So Pyongyang's request for military talks this week surprised many observers.
But in the event, little seems to have been achieved in Thursday's discussions.
Officials said the meeting ended earlier than expected, casting doubts on the prospect of any progress.
The meeting coincides with a visit to Pyongyang by the US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill.The meeting coincides with a visit to Pyongyang by the US nuclear envoy Christopher Hill.
He is there to try to find a breakthrough in the deadlocked nuclear negotiations.He is there to try to find a breakthrough in the deadlocked nuclear negotiations.
North Korea is threatening to restart its mothballed reactor because it says the United States has failed to fulfil a promise to remove it from the list of states that sponsor terrorism. North Korea is threatening to restart its nuclear reactor because it says the United States has failed to fulfil a promise to remove it from the list of states that sponsor terrorism.
But the US says nuclear inspectors must first be given access to the North's nuclear sites to verify some of the steps it has taken so far.But the US says nuclear inspectors must first be given access to the North's nuclear sites to verify some of the steps it has taken so far.