Rare high level talks held between military generals from North and South Korea ended in stalemate on Wednesday with both sides failing to reach a breakthrough.
The two countries agreed to resume talks, after a high-level military delegation from North Korea visited South Korea for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games.
Kim Min-seok, spokesperson for the South’s Ministry of National Defense, said,
"The mood of the meeting was sincere as both sides were serious about improving ties, but this was the first meeting (in a while) and there was a difference in view that we were not able to narrow.”
North Korea reportedly demanded South Korea stop media outlets from publishing news criticising Pyongyang and that it halt activists from sending leaflets tied to balloons across the border.
On Friday, both sides exchanged gunfire after the North attempted to shoot down balloons that had been released by activists in the South.
Kim Min-seok, however said,
“Our side made it clear that we will defend the Northern Limit Line and that in our free democracy, we cannot stop civic groups from launching balloons or control news media,”
He went on to add,
“The meeting ended without setting a date for future talks or reaching any other agreement.”
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