韓朝在“嚴肅”氛圍中舉行會談

South Korean officials say military talks with North Korea are moving forward in a "serious" atmosphere and without political posturing.

Colonels from the two countries met for several hours Tuesday and South Korea's defense ministry said the parties agreed to meet again Wednesday. The talks are the first between the two Koreas since the North launched an artillery attack on a South Korean island in November.

The South's foreign ministry released a photo of the two officers shaking hands before the talks began in the border village of Panmunjom. A spokesman said the sides were discussing the agenda and process for a higher-level meeting and that "there were no political arguments from the two sides."

However the spokesman insisted that Seoul will not agree to a meeting between the two defense ministers unless the North takes "responsible measures" concerning its artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island in November and the sinking of a South Korean warship in March.

韓國官員說，他們與朝鮮的軍事談判在“嚴肅”的氛圍下進行，沒有擺出政治姿態。

兩國上校級軍官星期二舉行了幾個小時的會晤。韓國國防部說，雙方同意星期三再次會晤。這是自朝鮮11月對韓國延坪島發動炮擊以來，兩國首次舉行會談。

韓國外交部公佈了一張兩國官員在邊界村莊板門店舉行會談前握手的照片。韓國外交部發言人說，雙方討論了更高級別的會談的議程和進程，“雙方沒有進行政治爭論”。

但是，這位發言人堅持說，首爾不會同意舉行兩國國防部長間的會談，除非朝鮮就11月炮擊延坪島和3月韓國“天安號”軍艦沉沒事件採取“負責任的措施”。