China welcomes proposed 'inter-Korean military talks'

Beijing, Jan 22 (ANI): China has expressed support for the proposed inter-Korean military talks, with hopes that Seoul and Pyongyang would sort out their differences through dialogues.

"We support and welcome the two countries improving relations and stepping up reconciliation and bilateral cooperation through dialogue. We hope their talks achieve positive progress," Xinhua quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, as saying.

On Friday, North Korea's official KCNA news agency had confirmed that Pyongyang had proposed high-level talks between the militaries of both sides on the Korean Peninsula to defuse tensions, and establish peace and stability in the peninsula.

Kim Yong Chun, minister of the People's Armed Forces of North Korea's National Defence Commission, had reportedly sent the proposal to the South's Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.

South Korea accepted the proposal, Seoul's Yonhap News Agency claimed.

If talks are held, this would mark a major contact between both sides for the first in several years.

China has tried out a number of diplomatic efforts to solve the Korean Peninsula tension, including President Hu Jintao's telephonic conversation with US President Barack Obama on the issue. (ANI)