North and South Korea are holding top-level talks amid growing tension, the South's Unification Ministry told Yonhap news agency.

Senior aides to the two countries' leaders met at the Panmunjom truce village on the border, reports said.

North Korea had threatened "strong military action" if the South did not stop border loudspeaker broadcasts.

Following an exchange of fire on Thursday, North Korea declared a "semi-state of war", state media reported.

No media organisations are present at the talks, which took place inside the demilitarised zone which divides the two Koreas.

South Korea said ahead of the talks that it would be represented by national security adviser Kim Kwan-jin and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, and the North would send senior officials Hwang Pyong-so and Kim Yong-gon.

Mr Hwang is seen by many analysts as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's second-in-command.

North Korea had earlier issued a deadline for the dismantling of banks of loudspeakers, which have been blasting news bulletins, weather forecasts and music from the South. It had moved artillery into positions to fire on them.

South Korea has evacuated almost 4,000 residents from border areas and warned that it would "retaliate harshly".

BBC