North Korea has insisted on discussing the inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea in the inter-Korean military talks.

The North on Wednesday said no reason exists on postponing the discussion and demanded that the two sides take up the matter in the talks at the truce village of Panmunjom.

Pyongyang also refused to recognize Seoul's principle of respecting the border, saying the 1992 inter-Korean agreement on cooperation and reconciliation makes no mention of it.

Seoul proposed discussion of how to prevent maritime clashes in the Yellow Sea, a memorandum of understanding on security for test runs on inter-Korean railway lines and a common fishing zone.

Pyongyang, however, said setting the fishing zone will be difficult if the border is not discussed first.

A member of the South Korean delegation to the talks said the chance of a compromise is slim at this point but that the two sides will meet again Thursday after deliberating on the issues raised so far.