The two Koreas are said to be holding general-level military talks for the first time in seven years.
 
A South Korean government official said the two sides met at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the truce village of Panmunjeom.
 
High-ranking officials from the South Korean Defense Ministry and the North's Reconnaissance General Bureau are said to be participating. 
 
Seoul's Defense Ministry, however, did not confirm the agenda and schedule for the latest inter-Korean talks. 
 
A South Korean government source said the North suggested to not publicize the talks and the South agreed to the suggestion.
 
The meeting is being held in the wake of heightened military tensions as the North fired at South Korean civic groups' balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets toward the North last week. The ensuing fire exchange between the two Koreas at the border region came only three days after the two sides' naval forces fired at each other as a North Korean patrol boat violated the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea. 
 
The last general-level military talks between the two Koreas were held in December 2007 with the last working-level military meeting held in February 2011.