South and North Korea Hold First Talks Since Shelling of Island

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Koreas Hold First Talks Since Shelling of Island

Mark McDonald | The New York Times

North and South Korea held discussions on Tuesday, their first since an artillery exchange in November that killed four South Koreans and brought the countries to the brink of war.

The talks, at the border village of Panmunjom, started with a morning session that lasted less than an hour, typical of many of the perfunctory and often unproductive military meetings between the Koreas. But an afternoon session stretched well into the evening, and both sides agreed to meet again on Wednesday, at the request of the North.

A frustrated defense official in Seoul said Tuesday night that the North was continuing to deny any involvement in the sinking of a South Korean warship last March, an incident that killed 46 sailors. South Korea has said the sinking of the ship, the Cheonan, was caused by a North Korean torpedo attack.     Full Article