Two Koreas talk to 'ease tension'
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North Korean chief delegate Kim Ryong Song ends four days of talks that have paved the way for further diplomatic progress.
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North Korea is offering a deal that could halt its nuclear program in return for concessions from Washington. CNN's David Ensor explains. (January 6)
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(CNN) -- North and South Korea have agreed to hold high-level military talks on the North's nuclear weapons program and "ease" military tension.
A joint statement Friday at the end of four days of talks in the South Korean capital Seoul said the countries have "agreed to hold a military official meeting to ease military tension on the Korean peninsula".
Later, South Korean officials said talks would be conducted by generals. However, the communist North, which has the world's fifth largest armed force capability, said talks would be "proposed" to the military.
Cabinet level talks have also been finalized with both sides to meet from May 4-7. It will be the 13th time politicians from the two countries have met at such a high level.
The move follows talks between North Korea and an Australian diplomatic team earlier this week, as well as a visit by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to South Korea and Japan.
As a result of the diplomatic activity, North Korea Wednesday agreed to resume six-nation talks on the nuclear dispute with the United States, South Korea, Japan, China and Russia. Those talks are scheduled for February 25 in Beijing.
The last military talks between the Koreas were in 2000 between defense ministers who never met again.
The statement released Friday said the countries had also agreed to conduct a ninth round of family reunions next month for those who have been separated since the Korean War of 1950-53.
The reunions will take place at the Diamond Mountain resort on North Korea's east coast.
Progress was made on the economic front with agreement that South Korea can build an industrial park in North Korea and joint efforts to prevent floods in the border region.
Associated Press reports South Korea's chief negotiator, Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun, insists Pyongyang make concessions on the nuclear issue before Seoul embarks on more investment in the North's economy.
His counterpart, Kim Ryong Song, urged South Korea not to pursue such "rackets".
North Korea often accuses Washington of pressuring South Korea to slow down investment in the North until the communist country agrees to dismantle its nuclear weapons programs.
North Korea says it will freeze its nuclear programs as a first step in resolving the dispute, but only if the United States lifts sanctions, resumes oil shipments and removes North Korea from its list of countries sponsoring terrorism.
In exchange for a freeze in its nuclear program, North Korea wants the U.S. to:
- take Pyongyang off its terrorism list
- lift political, economic and military sanctions
- supply heavy oil, power and other energy resources.
The U.S. has shot down similar proposals, saying it wants North Korea to begin dismantling its nuclear program, not just freeze it.
"There is no reason for the U.S. to refuse to accept the DPRK-proposed measures, the starting point and the core issue in continuing the six-way talks, if it is truly concerned for solving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula," KCNA reported in January.
In the months since the initial talks, North Korea has indicated it could consider U.S. President George W. Bush's offer of written security guarantees to end tensions over its nuclear weapons development.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Tuesday North Korea indicated it was prepared to resume talks soon on its nuclear arms program.
An Australian delegation arrived in the North Korean capital Pyongyang on Saturday for three days of talks. Downer said it had been well received by senior North Korean officials.
North Korea's official KCNA news agency confirmed Monday talks on the nuclear issue had been held between the Australian delegation and Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kim Yong-il, who headed the North Korean delegation at the first round of the six-way talks.
Australia is one of the few Western countries to have diplomatic relations with North Korea. Australia restored relations in May 2000 as Pyongyang began to emerge from its Cold War isolation and the North opened a mission in the Australian capital, Canberra, in 2002.
-- CNN Seoul Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-ae contributed to this report
