Apology sought as inter-Korea talks begin

SEOUL, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Military leaders from North and South Korea met Tuesday to lay the groundwork for higher-level meetings, officials in Seoul said.

The meetings, the first talks between the Koreas since Pyongyang's artillery attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, involved discussions of future agendas and were devoid of political rhetoric, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"Both sides have been discussing the agenda and process for a higher-level meeting," Kim Min-seok, a spokesman at the South's Defense Ministry, told reporters. "The atmosphere was serious, and there were no political arguments from the two sides."

The talks at border village of Panmunjom among colonels were meant to determine the date, place and agenda for higher level talks, possibly at the defense minister level, Kim said.

South Korean's Defense Ministry said it wouldn't agree to advance talks to the next level unless North Korea apologizes and takes "responsible measures" for the Nov. 23 shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, in which four South Koreans died, and the torpedo attack that sunk a South Korean warship in March, killing 46 sailors, Yonhap reported.

"Our stance has not changed," Kim said. "A higher-level military meeting will be possible only if North Korea takes responsible measures for the attacks on Yeonpyeong Island and the Cheonan warship and promises not to carry out any more provocations."

North Korea has denied involvement in the sinking of the Cheonan and said its attack on Yeonpyeong Islandwas justified because South Korea conducted a live-fire drill near the island with some shells falling into North Korean territory.

The Obama administration, which has been practicing what aides call "strategic patience" with the North, said before Tuesday's meetings it was pleased a dialogue between the two Koreas was resuming.

"We recognize and believe that the essential first step in any process of re-engagement with North Korea requires a true and significant North-South dialogue," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Kurt Campbell told reporters.

North Korea, backed by China, seek a resumption of six-party talks -- among North Korea, South Korea, China, the United States, Russia and Japan -- aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to security concerns stemming from North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The North walked out of the last round in 2008.

Washington and Seoul have said they are skeptical of resuming talks without meaningful movement from Pyongyang.