N. Korea proposes talks with South

SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea on Wednesday proposed holding high-level military talks with South Korea on May 26 aimed at reducing tension centered on the international standoff over the communist state's nuclear weapons development.

In a telephone message, the North suggested that officials meet on the border Friday to work out the proposed high-level talks, the South's Defense Ministry said.

The North proposed holding the high-level talks May 26 at its east coast Diamond Mountain resort, it said.

The South did not have an immediate response, but it has repeatedly urged the North for such high-level military talks.

Seoul had hoped to hold the talks this month to discuss ways of avoiding naval skirmishes along the poorly marked western sea border as fishing boats jostle for position during crab-catching season in May and June.

North Korean fishing boats have occasionally crossed into waters controlled by South Korea during crab season.

North and South Korea fought deadly naval gunbattles in the western sea in 1999 and 2002. South Korea said that several sailors were wounded, and that up to 30 North Koreans died in the 1999 clash. In 2002, one South Korean warship sank, killing six of its sailors. The North said it suffered casualties, but didn't confirm how many.

South Korea recognizes a sea border demarcated by the United Nations after the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. North Korea has never recognized it and claims a boundary farther south. The two Koreas often claim intrusions by the other side's naval ships and fishing boats.

Also Wednesday, a South Korean report said Pyongyang demanded aid in exchange for freezing its nuclear weapons program as it began low-level talks with the United States and four other nations.

The "working group" talks are meant to help produce an agenda for a third round of high-level talks on the North's nuclear ambitions, which host Beijing hopes takes place before July.

Even as envoys from the six nations sat down to talk, the North Korean government unleashed more vitriol from Pyongyang, with the newspaper Rodong Sinmun accusing the United States of using the nuclear issue as a pretext for war.

On Wednesday, "North Korea renewed its reward-for-freeze demand and warned that the success of the talks will depend on whether the United States accepts its demand or not," Yonhap said.

The United States and its allies say they are willing to provide aid if North Korea freezes its nuclear facilities and commits itself to dismantling them. Washington says such a freeze must be a temporary step toward permanent dismantling. North Korea has balked at making such a commitment, and insists on aid and a freeze taking place simultaneously.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. delegation.

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