By Kevin Kim
BBC News, Seoul
Military talks between North and South Korea are resuming on Thursday after a break of nearly two years.
The talks are expected to help ease military tension along the inter-Korean border and increase economic exchange between the two countries.
Military generals from North and South Korea are meeting for the first time since earlier discussions were halted in June 2004.
They aim to ease tensions along the border dividing the Korean peninsula.
Two-star generals are leading the delegations from each side for the meeting on the North Korean side of Panmunjom, the truce village inside the demilitarised zone.
Naval clashes
The South Korean defence ministry has said that talks will include measures to prevent armed conflict in the western sea border and the establishment of a joint fishing area in the disputed Yellow Sea.
Deadly naval clashes between the two sides have occurred in the area and navy ships from both sides have found it increasingly difficult to patrol Chinese boats that have been aggressively fishing in the buffer zone dividing the sea border.
The South Korean delegation is also requesting discussions on safe passage guarantees for those using cross-border roads and railways.
Although tracks have been laid connecting the two countries, trains have not passed through the military border due to the absence of this guarantee.
Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has expressed interest in travelling to the North by train in June to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
(BBC)
<< Back