The second day of preliminary talks broke down between North and South Korean officials at the border village of Panmunjom. The talks were designed to set the time and agenda for future higher level military discussions. However, as has happened in the past, North Korea walked out of the discussions when the South demanded an apology for the sinking of the Cheonan warship last March, and the artillery shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in November. When confronted with the demand, the North instead suggested agenda items for future talks in which the two military incidents would be discussed. South Korea viewed this as a strategy from the DPRK to postpone the apologies; a consistent precondition for a return to talks.
Where does that leave things? Agreements were made for the Red Cross organizations in either state to meet to plan more reunions of families seperated by the 1950-1953 Korean War, but talks between the two militaries have seemingly collapsed. One can only wonder what tactics an increasingly desperate North Korea might employ in order to resume vital food aid to the impoverished state.
Source: Yonhap News
