The two Koreas have begun holding their first inter-Korean military contact since the sinking of South Korea’s “Cheonan” warship in March.

The Defense Ministry in Seoul says three officials each from South and North Korea began working-level defense talks on the South Korean side of the Panmunjeom border village at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

They are the first working-level defense talks to be held since late 2008.

A ministry official says agendas proposed by each side will be discussed, including the South’s request that the North act responsibly in terms of the Cheonan incident as well as the North's criticisms of the South Korean government and its hopes of easing tensions near the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea.