North and South Korea officials met at a village on the border of both countries to discuss animosities between the rival countries following two shooting incidents last week, according to Reuters.
Last Friday, both Koreas traded gunfire after South Korean activists floated balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border, CNN reported. Also last week, navies from both sides exchanged warning shots along the countries' disputed sea boundary, but there were no reports of casualties from either incident.
The military officials met at the Panmunjom truce village that sits on the armed border separating the two Koreas, Park Jie-won, a senior opposition member of parliament said at a party meeting, according to a statement issued by the party, Reuters reported.
South Korea said it would deal with any further provocations by North Korea "sternly," but stressed that the door for dialogue remained open, according to Reuters. North Korea urged South Korea to stop hostile acts such as dropping leaflets if it wants to improve ties.
North Korea has already demanded South Korea prohibit activists from dropping leaflets, but South Korea has refused, citing freedom of speech, according to Reuters. South Korea said there was no legal justification to stop a private group's activities, but has urged the groups against sending the leaflets.
Wednesday's meeting among the generals at the border village of Panmunjom was expected to focus on how to ease tensions along the sea boundary, as well as discuss the dropping of propaganda leaflets, Reuters reported. Yonhap news agency also reported a meeting was held, citing an unnamed government source.
Seoul's Defense Ministry and Unification Ministry said they couldn't confirm the talks, according to Reuters. Hopes for better relations were placed on hold after a group of high-level North Korean officials made a rare visit to South Korea and agreed to resume talks.
