10/02/2011 10:57
Inter-Korean talks collapse after North's walkout
Military talks aimed at easing high tensions between North and South Korea broke down Wednesday when the North's delegation walked out, Seoul's defence ministry said, according to AFP.
The two sides had been meeting for the first time since the North's deadly shelling of a South Korean island on November 23, which briefly sparked fears of war.
A ministry spokesman told AFP the delegates even failed to discuss when to meet again. "Under the current situation, we can say the talks have collapsed."
Washington said that Pyongyang's walkout was a "missed opportunity" on the part of the North.
After two days of working-level discussions aimed at setting the agenda for a high-level military meeting, North and South remained far apart.