( CNN ) -- North Korea has agreed to hold talks Friday with the U.S.-led U.N. Command on the peninsula over the sinking of a South Korean warship . It will be the second meeting between the two parties since the March attack on the Cheonan , which killed 46 South Korean sailors . An international investigation blamed North Korea for the sinking , an assertion the North has denied . Officers from both sides will meet in Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea . The talks are designed to set the stage for higher-level discussions on the disputed naval incident . The demilitarized zone was created as part of the armistice signed between North and South Korea in 1953 that halted fighting in the Korean War , but the war has never officially ended . The United Nations and North Korea began occasional meetings between generals -- `` general officer talks '' -- at Panmunjom in 1998 in an effort to lessen tensions . There have been 17 such meetings so far . Earlier this month , the United Nations formally condemned the sinking of the Cheonan but did not specifically name North Korea . `` The Security Council deplores the attack , '' the 15-member council said in what is known as a presidential statement . It urged that `` appropriate and peaceful measures be taken against those responsible for the incident aimed at the peaceful settlement of the issue . '' It also called for full adherence to the 1953 armistice agreement . About 8,000 military personnel from the United States and South Korea are to participate in joint military exercises dubbed `` Invincible Spirit '' from July 25-28 , Combined Alliance Joint Naval and Air Exercises announced Tuesday . `` The purpose of this readiness exercise is to highlight Alliance resolve to face any threat North Korea may pose , '' it said in a news release .
NEW : Joint military exercises are to be held July 25-28 . The meeting will take place in the demilitarized zone . It is intended to set the stage for higher-level talks . North Korea was blamed for the sinking of the warship Cheonan , but denies it .