Tensions build between North and South Korea despite talks

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye took a firm stand against North Korea demands on the third day of high-level talks on Monday – as Seoul said Pyongyang was deploying artillery forces along the front line.

Park said an apology from North Korea for recent incidents is necessary before Seoul agrees to Pyongyang's request to end loudspeaker broadcasts.

"This is not a matter where we can back down, even if North Korea maximizes its provocations and threatens security like it did in the past," Park said, according to CNN.

North Korea initially threatened retaliation then asked South Korea to end its propaganda campaign across the DMZ – that began on Aug. 10 as payback for land mine explosions that critically injured two South Korean soldiers. North Korea has denied involvement in the blasts, but South Korea is seeking an admission of fault and an apology.

North and South Korea have been engaging in marathon talks that extended through Monday afternoon after they resumed on Sunday evening. Both sides seek to defuse tension, but the meetings have been taking place against the backdrop of mixed messages from Pyongyang.

North Korea has been airing condemnations of the South Korean government on state television, calling on viewers to "destroy the warmongering South Korean puppet military!"

South Korea also said the North's "quasi-state of war" was mobilizing key components of its defense to the front lines, The Korea Herald reported.

Seoul officials said the North has forward-deployed air-cushion vehicles and 76.2-mm artillery guns. Front-line troops had been placed at their stations, ready for full combat.

The United States and South Korea are monitoring the situation, Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said on Monday, and the two allies are looking into mobilizing a B-52 strategic bomber, along with a nuclear-powered submarine and other military assets to deter North Korea according to The Herald.