The demilitarized zone was created as part of the armistice signed between the two Koreas in 1953 that halted fighting in the Korean War , but the war has never officially ended . NEW : The two sides will meet again next Thursday . The talks are designed to set the stage for higher - level discussions . U.N. Radio : The 2nd round of talks last 1 hour and 45 minutes . North Korea has been blamed for the sinking of the warship Cheonan , but denies it .
NEW : The two sides will meet again next Thursday . The talks are designed to set the stage for higher - level discussions . U.N. Radio : The 2nd round of talks last 1 hour and 45 minutes . North Korea has been blamed for the sinking of the warship Cheonan , but denies it .