these two countries are technically still at war. here's cnn's will ripley. >> it's a vivid reminder of what's at stake on the planes. >> reporter: the first official talks in two years between north and south korea will be held is in the so-called truce village. straddling the 38th parallel. the tense dividing line between two neighbors still technically at war. delegations from both sides of the dmz will be sitting a stone's throw away from the path on north korean soldier took in november in a dramatic defection, shot five times, running south. the talks will take place in peace house, one of three buildings in the truce village built specifically for discussions like this. two in the south, one in the north. >> sometimes the two have