North Korea and South Korea hold first high-level talks since 2007

North Korea and South Korea are holding their first high-level talks since 2007.

The meeting – requested by Pyongyang – is taking place at the border village of Panmunjom.

No agenda has been set but the issue of family reunions planned for later this month is expected to be discussed.

Pyongyang has threatened to cancel the reunions because of the annual military exercises South Korea and the US are due to stage in February.

The morning session started at 10:00 local time and lasted for 90 minutes. Delegates then reconvened at South Korea’s side of Panmunjom in the afternoon, AFP news agency said.

South Korea’s Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Kyou-hyun is leading Seoul’s delegation at the Panmunjom talks.

Ahead of the meeting, Kim Kyou –hyun said: “This is an opportunity to open a new era of the Korean peninsula.

“I would like to attend the meeting with ‘open attitude and mind’ to study the opportunity.

“We will make an effort to proceed with the separated families reunion event as agreed.”

North Korea’s delegation has been headed by Won Tong-yon, a senior official specializing in inter-Korean ties, South Korean officials said.