North, South Korea Hold First Talks In Two Years

North and South Korean officials have met for the first time in two years in a bid to reduce simmering tensions between the rivals.

The two sides held the talks on June 9 in Panmunjon, where the armistice was signed in the 1950-53 Korean War.

The countries agreed to hold ministerial-level talks in Seoul on June 12.

A spokesman for the South's Unification Ministry said the two sides discussed technical issues for the ministerial meeting, including the venue and size of delegations.

He described the talks as "calm" but said, "We'll get a better sense of where things really stand on [June 12]."

The June 9 meeting took place hours after U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed at a summit that the North had to abandon its nuclear program.


Based on reporting by AFP and AP