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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Koreas end first high-level talks in seven years without progress |
| 2014-02-13 |
| SEOUL -- South and North Korea ended their first high-level talks in seven years without any progress, an official said Thursday, due mainly to upcoming military exercises between Seoul and Washington. North Korea called on South Korea to delay the military exercises until after staging the reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, the official of the unification ministry said. The Koreas have agreed to hold the reunions at Mount Kumgang, a scenic resort on the North's east coast, from Feb. 20 to 25. The North had previously pressed South Korea to scrap the military exercises, which are set to run from Feb. 24 through April, condemning them as a rehearsal for a nuclear war against it. Seoul and Washington have repeatedly vowed to go ahead with the exercises, calling them defensive in nature. South Korea rejected the North's request at their border talks, noting that family reunions should not be linked to the military exercises. South Korea reiterated that family reunions are a first step toward improving inter-Korean relations. |
| Posted by:Steve White |