South Korea's new government proposes military talks with North Korea

Seoul

SOUTH Korea on Monday proposed military talks with North Korea, the first formal overture to Pyongyang by the government of President Moon Jae-in, to discuss ways to avoid hostile acts near the heavily militarised border.

There was no immediate response from the North to the proposal for talks later this week. The two sides technically remain at war but Mr Moon, who came to power in May, has pledged to engage Pyongyang in dialogue as well as bring pressure to impede its nuclear and missile programmes.

The offer comes after the North claimed to have conducted the first test of an interco…