Rival Koreas meet for talks as tensions ease

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http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Rival_Koreas_meet_for_talks_as_tensions_ease.html?cid=29441244

Feb 8, 2011 - 12:42

By Jeremy Laurence

SEOUL (Reuters) - The rival Koreas held their first talks since a deadly attack on a South Korean island last year amid signs of a thaw in tensions as momentum builds for a resumption of aid-for-disarmament negotiations.

Tuesday's preliminary military talks clear one of the roadblocks to a possible resumption of six-way talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear-weapons programme, last held more than two years ago when the North walked out. snip

The two sides failed to reach an agreement on Tuesday, and will resume negotiations on Wednesday about arranging a senior-level meeting, the defence ministry in Seoul said.

Under pressure from the United States and China, host of the six-party talks, the neighbours have toned down their combative rhetoric over the past month and agreed to bilateral talks.