It has been learned that a wall portrait of late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung sparked an argument between South and North Korean defense officials when they met Tuesday in Pyongyang.

Before beginning the first day of defense ministers' talks, South Korean working-level officials demanded that the portrait be removed.

The argument caused about a half hour delay before the two sides finally agreed to keep the portrait where it was.

The argument became known to reporters after North Korea's military chief Kim Il-chol complained to his South Korean counterpart about the issue.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo expressed regret over the argument. He explained that he had scolded his men, citing an inter-Korean agreement to respect each other's system.