Korean armies renew talks

Senior South and North Korean military officers have met for the first time since relations soured in July, when Pyongyang defied international warnings to test-fire a series of missiles.

The meeting, proposed by the North, took place at the truce village on the heavily fortified border that has divided the two Koreas for more than half-a-century.

It comes as the international community tries to pressure North Korea to return to six-country talks to negotiate an end to its nuclear weapons program.

Pyongyang quit the talks almost a year ago, refusing to return until the US ends a financial crackdown on North Korean offshore bank accounts.

Analysts say the freeze is hurting the reclusive North Korean Government.

A South Korean Defence Ministry official said colonels leading the two delegations were expected to discuss ways to implement two-year-old agreements aimed at cutting military tension on the Korean peninsula, which is divided by one of the world's most heavily fortified borders.

Political ties between the two Koreas have improved in the past six years but militarily, they remain at a tense stand-off under the truce that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.

No peace treaty has ever been signed.

North Korea has stepped up criticism of South Korea in recent weeks, saying "bellicose forces" in Seoul are colluding with the US to wage war against the North.

- Reuters