Cambodia’s defense ministry on Monday said that the country’s troops haven't withdrawn from a patch of land whose ownership is hotly disputed by neighboring Thailand, but the declaration also echoed recent statements by both sides seeking a peaceful resolution to their competing border claims.

Thailand has imposed severe restrictions along its 817km border with Cambodia as both sides continue to deploy troops around the Emerald Triangle while talks have yielded little results as Phnom Penh pushes the dispute into an international court.

Cambodia's Defence Ministry confirmed on Sunday that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to return their troops to previous border positions after a clash in which a Cambodian soldier was killed prompted both to reinforce their military presence.