韩朝在“严肃”氛围中举行会谈

韩国官员说，他们与朝鲜的军事谈判在“严肃”的氛围下进行，没有摆出政治姿态。

两国上校级军官星期二举行了几个小时的会晤。韩国国防部说，双方同意星期三再次会晤。这是自朝鲜11月对韩国延坪岛发动炮击以来，两国首次举行会谈。

韩国外交部公布了一张两国官员在边界村庄板门店举行会谈前握手的照片。韩国外交部发言人说，双方讨论了更高级别的会谈的议程和进程，“双方没有进行政治争论”。

但是，这位发言人坚持说，首尔不会同意举行两国国防部长间的会谈，除非朝鲜就11月炮击延坪岛和3月韩国“天安号”军舰沉没事件采取“负责任的措施”。

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.