Korean military talks end in deadlock

The first talks between rival military generals from North and South Korea ended today with little progress.

But both sides agreed to continue negotiations on ways to reduce tension along the Cold War’s last frontier amid an international deadlock over the communist North’s nuclear weapons programmes.

The generals met at the North’s east coast Diamond Mountain resort, just north of the heavily fortified Demilitarised Zone that has separated the opponents since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

The one-day discussions stretched into the afternoon and ended in agreement to meet again on June 3 at Sorak Mountain in South Korea, said a South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman in Seoul.

South Korea had proposed that the rare military meetings be regularised, a ministry statement said.

The South also suggested a hot line phone connection between the two sides and that the two navies adopt a standard radio frequency and signalling system to improve communication at sea.

North Korea countered that both sides should discuss ways to reduce provocative propaganda.

“South and North Korea agreed to study each sides proposals and continue discussions in future talks,” the statement said.