AFP - North Korea and South on Tuesday held their first talks since the deadly bombing in November of a South Island by forces that Pyongyang still had heightened tensions between the two warring brothers.
Hosted discussions in the "Peace House" in the village of Panmunjom in the middle of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), began at 10:00 am (0100 GMT) and continued in the afternoon, according to a carrier word of the South Korean Ministry of Defense.
The two colonels in charge of the debates have shaken hands before opening the discussion, according to photographs provided by the department.
These discussions are intended to prepare a formal high-level meeting, presumably between the two Defence Ministers, at a date yet to be determined.
This initial contact after months of high tensions in Seoul was to test the intentions of Pyongyang, which was launched in late 2010 in a charm offensive and had repeated desire to resume the dialogue.
"The two parties discussed the agenda and organization of an encounter at a high level," said Kim Min-Seol, spokesman for the Department of Defense. "The atmosphere was serious and there were no political discussions".
Mr.Kim recalled that prior to any substantive dialogue, Pyongyang must take "responsible action" after the recent attacks and refrain from conducting further hostilities.
The year 2010 was marked by two serious incidents, the sinking in March of a South Korean corvette in which 46 sailors were killed and the bombing in November of a South Korean island that killed two soldiers and two civilians.
The North's side rejects any liability in the sinking of the sloop despite the findings of an international investigation that put into question.The communist regime also claims that the bombing in November was speaking in response to South Korean laborers in the region.
"It is possible that these discussions will result in a freeze on all positions," said a military official was quoted by South Korean Yonhap news agency before the talks began.
"The two sides could hold a series of preliminary discussions," he added.
China, Pyongyang's only ally, and the United States, an ally of Seoul, have urged the two warring brothers to resume the discussion.
Beijing is pushing for a resumption of six-party talks on nuclear disarmament of North, but Washington insists that the North first discuss with the South.
In response to the bombing in November, South Korea has conducted a series of maneuvers.It also strengthened the defenses of the island referred to Yeonpyeong and four other islands border.
A military source quoted by Yonhap, Seoul also plans to strengthen its marine corps of 2,000 men to reinforce the defense of this sensitive area, the scene of other incidents in the past.
The army has also deployed new batteries of artillery, radar systems for detecting weapons and missiles capable of striking North Korean artillery hidden in underground shelters.
The South also plans to deploy missiles on board a destroyer of 4,500 tons, sailing in the disputed area of the Yellow Sea, according to a source quoted by Yonhap.
