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Discussions between generals from North and South Korea collapsed on Wednesday, the second day of talks, because North Korean brass insisted on discussing redrawing the maritime border in the West Sea.
The South Korean side had said it is willing to discuss the Northern Limit Line together with eight other areas laid down in a fundamental agreement between top officials in 1992. The South says that was not an offer to redraw the NLL, which North Korea does not recognize, but the mere mention of the possibility appears to have opened a can of worms that threatens to set back relations between the two Koreas.
The South on Wednesday insisted that the NLL issue must be discussed along with the other seven items in the fundamental agreement, which include the elimination of weapons of mass destruction and other attack weapons, as well as a gradual demilitarization of the peninsula. The earlier agreements ˇ°include more than just a few hairy issues, so it will be difficult for North Korea to accept,ˇ± a South Korean officer said.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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