North and South Korea's first formal talks in more than two years begin
Updated
North and South Korea have kicked off their first formal talks in more than two years, with both sides expressing optimism ahead of discussions on how the North's athletes can attend the Winter Olympics in the South despite tensions.
Key points:
- The talks between North and South Korea have begun at a truce village
- The two nations will discuss how North Korea can participate in the upcoming Winter Olympics
- The South hopes to also discuss reuniting families separated in the Korean War
Regardless of its narrow, primarily sporting agenda, the meeting is being closely watched by world leaders eager for any sign of a reduction in tensions on the Korean Peninsula, amid growing concern over North Korea's nuclear weapons development and defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
"We came to this meeting today with the thought of giving our brethren, who have high hopes for this dialogue, invaluable results as the first present of the year," said the head of North Korea's delegation Ri Son Gwon.
North Korea entered the talks with a "serious and sincere stance", said Mr Ri, who is also chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.
His counterpart, South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, also expressed optimism.
"Our talks began after North and South Korea were severed for a long time, but I believe the first step is half the trip," Mr Cho said.
"It would be good for us to make that 'good present' you mentioned earlier."
Five senior officials from each side are meeting at the three-storey Peace House on the South Korean side of the Panmunjom truce village.
Family reunions to be discussed
Mr Cho has said his delegation was preparing to also discuss resuming reunions of family members separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War — that conflict ended in a ceasefire and technically the two sides remain at war.
Speaking to media before heading in to the talks, Mr Cho acknowledged the high level of anticipation surrounding the event.
"We will also calmly participate in the talks without rushing, in accordance with expectations of our people," he said.
"We will make our best efforts to make the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympics become a peaceful festival, and that [the talks] become a good first step."
Some South Korean officials are hoping the two Koreas may even march under a single flag at a sports opening ceremony for the first time in more than a decade.
Pointing to his briefcase before departing for the border, Mr Cho smiled and said, "I have a bit of luggage".
"Everything feels slightly new as we have not had talks in a while," he said.
Just before the delegation drove into the demilitarised zone, some 20 South Koreans were seen waving a banner reading: "We wish the success of the high-ranking inter-Korean talks."
One man was spotted waving a flag with a unified Korean Peninsula.
Cameras and microphones are usually placed in the room to ensure that officials from both sides can monitor the talks.
Mr Ri is a seasoned negotiator for inter-Korean talks, although his previous experience has mostly been military-related due to his career in the armed forces.
The meeting marks the first time diplomatic talks have been held between the two since 2015, after Seoul suspended a joint economic project following a rocket launch and nuclear test by the North.
Talks 'a good thing', Trump says
The United States, which has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, initially responded coolly to the idea of inter-Korean meetings.
The State Department had said Pyongyang "might be trying to drive a wedge" between Washington and Seoul and weaken a US-led campaign to force North Korea to give up its development of nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the US.
But on Thursday, US President Donald Trump called the new talks "a good thing" and said they had been prompted by his "firm, strong" stance, which has included harsher international sanctions and threats of military intervention if the North does not give up its weapons program.
On Saturday, Mr Trump said he was "100 per cent" behind the talks and hoped for positive developments.
He also said he would "absolutely" be willing to talk on the phone to Mr Kim.
"Look, right now they're talking Olympics. It's a start, it's a big start," Mr Trump said.
"If something can happen and something comes out of those talks, that would be a great thing for all of humanity, that would be a great thing for the world."
Mr Trump said he would like to see talks go beyond the Olympics, and added that the US would "get involved" at the appropriate time.
Reuters/AP
Topics: world-politics, unrest-conflict-and-war, korea-democratic-peoples-republic-of, korea-republic-of
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