N. Korea, U.N. Command in urgent talks at Demilitarized Zone

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — High-level military officials from North Korea and the U.S.-led U.N. Command held urgent talks at the border today amid heightened tensions in the region and concerns that the North intends to fire a long-range missile.

The talks at the village of Panmunjom inside the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas — the first meeting between general-level military officials since 2002 — were hastily arranged after the North proposed such a meeting last week, U.N. command spokesman Kim Yong-kyu said.

Tensions have intensified in recent weeks amid reports that North Korea is preparing to test a long-range missile believed capable of reaching U.S. territory.

The North last week called its plans a peaceful bid to push its space program forward by sending a communications satellite into orbit.