Foreign and Military Affairs

China welcomes inter-Korean military talks

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-21 20:37

BEIJING - China Friday applauded the proposed inter-Korean military talks, welcoming the prospect of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) improving ties through dialogue.

"We support and welcome the two countries improving relations and stepping up reconciliation and bilateral cooperation through dialogue," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei when responding to a reporter's question.

Pyongyang proposed high-level talks between the militaries of the two sides on the Korean Peninsula, to defuse tensions, the official KCNA news agency confirmed Friday.

Kim Yong Chun, minister of the People's Armed Forces of the DPRK National Defence Commission, sent the proposal to ROK Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.

The ROK government accepted the proposal, according to Seoul's Yonhap News Agency.

"We hope their talks achieve positive progress," Hong said.

The talks, if held, will mark the first major contact between the two sides for years. Pyongyang recently repeated its call for inter-Korean dialogue.