South and North Korea held their first talks in two years at the truce village of Panmunjeom, Tuesday.
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Talks were held at Peace House of Panmunjeom (Yonhap) |
The soured relationship between the divided Koreas took an abrupt turn following the recent New Year’s address by Kim Jong-un, where the North’s leader said he was willing to hold talks with the South for participation in the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Games.
Cho Myoung-gyon, the South’s Unification Minister, met with his counterpart Ri Son-gwon, the chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, where the two discussed sports and peace across the border.
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The North's delegation cross over to the South's side of the Joint Security Area (Yonhap) |
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Cho Myoung-gyon and Ri Son-gwon shake hands (Yonhap) |
Ri was flanked by Jon Jong-su, vice chairman of the CPRC, Hwang Chung-song, director of the CPRC, Won Kil-u, vice minister of physical culture and sports, and Ri Kyong-sik, a member of the National Olympic Committee of North Korea.
At the talks, North Korea offered to send a high-level delegation and performing arts squads to next month’s PyeongChang Olympics, while the South proposed the joint entrance of the two countries’ athletes to the opening and closing ceremonies.
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(From left) Ri Son-gwon, Jon Jong-su, Hwang Chung-song, Won Kil-u and Ri Kyong-sik of North Korea (Yonhap) |
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South and North Korea held the first talk in two years on Jan. 9, 2017 (Yonhap) |
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Ri Son-gwon and Cho Myoung-gyon pose for photo (Yonhap) |