This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42589231
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| North Korea 'likely' to attend Olympics in South, says official | North Korea 'likely' to attend Olympics in South, says official |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A North Korean Olympic official has said that his country is "likely to participate" in next month's Winter Olympic Games, reports say. | |
| Chang Ung, Pyongyang's representative to the International Olympic Committee, reportedly made the comment at Beijing International Airport on Saturday. | Chang Ung, Pyongyang's representative to the International Olympic Committee, reportedly made the comment at Beijing International Airport on Saturday. |
| Mr Chang is believed to be travelling to Switzerland to discuss the subject, Japanese news agency Kyodo reports. | Mr Chang is believed to be travelling to Switzerland to discuss the subject, Japanese news agency Kyodo reports. |
| It comes a day after Pyongyang agreed to official talks with South Korea. | It comes a day after Pyongyang agreed to official talks with South Korea. |
| How did this all start? | How did this all start? |
| During his New Year's Day address, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he hoped that the Pyeongchang Winter Games would be a success, adding that he was considering sending a delegation. | During his New Year's Day address, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he hoped that the Pyeongchang Winter Games would be a success, adding that he was considering sending a delegation. |
| In response, South Korea's President Moon Jae-in proposed a meeting with North Korean officials to discuss the subject in detail. | In response, South Korea's President Moon Jae-in proposed a meeting with North Korean officials to discuss the subject in detail. |
| Mr Moon's proposal and Mr Kim's remarks about the Olympics were the result of two secret meetings between South and North Korean sports officials, which took place in China in late December. | Mr Moon's proposal and Mr Kim's remarks about the Olympics were the result of two secret meetings between South and North Korean sports officials, which took place in China in late December. |
| In those meetings, the two Koreas agreed to participate in sports exchanges during 2018. | In those meetings, the two Koreas agreed to participate in sports exchanges during 2018. |
| What are next week's talks about? | What are next week's talks about? |
| North Korea this week accepted an offer to attend a meeting on 9 January that will focus on finding a way for its athletes to attend the Games in South Korea from 9-25 February. | North Korea this week accepted an offer to attend a meeting on 9 January that will focus on finding a way for its athletes to attend the Games in South Korea from 9-25 February. |
| It will be the first such meeting in more than two years and is expected to be held at Panmunjom, the so-called peace village in the heavily guarded demilitarised zone (DMZ) where the two sides have historically held talks. | It will be the first such meeting in more than two years and is expected to be held at Panmunjom, the so-called peace village in the heavily guarded demilitarised zone (DMZ) where the two sides have historically held talks. |
| It is not yet clear who will be attending. | It is not yet clear who will be attending. |
| According to an official from South Korea's presidential office, the meeting's priority will be the Pyeongchang Winter Games. | According to an official from South Korea's presidential office, the meeting's priority will be the Pyeongchang Winter Games. |
| However, he told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that he believed there would also "be discussions related to improving South-North ties after the North's participation in the Olympics becomes final". | However, he told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that he believed there would also "be discussions related to improving South-North ties after the North's participation in the Olympics becomes final". |
| Is this a sign of progress? | Is this a sign of progress? |
| The tentative moves towards the Olympic appearance come after months of escalating rhetoric from North Korea and the US. | The tentative moves towards the Olympic appearance come after months of escalating rhetoric from North Korea and the US. |
| The leaders of both countries have previously each threatened the other with nuclear annihilation. | The leaders of both countries have previously each threatened the other with nuclear annihilation. |
| Now, as part of efforts to smooth the path to the Olympics, the US has agreed to a request from South Korea to suspend joint military operations, scheduled to take place during the Games. | Now, as part of efforts to smooth the path to the Olympics, the US has agreed to a request from South Korea to suspend joint military operations, scheduled to take place during the Games. |
| Earlier this week, North Korea also restored a telephone hotline at their mutual border, to enable the first contact about talks to be made. | Earlier this week, North Korea also restored a telephone hotline at their mutual border, to enable the first contact about talks to be made. |
| Mr Kim has said that sending a delegation to the Games would be "a good opportunity to show unity of the people". | Mr Kim has said that sending a delegation to the Games would be "a good opportunity to show unity of the people". |
| "We hope the two Koreas will sit down and find a solution to lower tensions and establish peace on the Korean peninsula," he added. | "We hope the two Koreas will sit down and find a solution to lower tensions and establish peace on the Korean peninsula," he added. |
| While Mr Moon has previously said he sees the Winter Olympics as a "groundbreaking chance" to improve relations between the Koreas, the two countries still technically at war. | While Mr Moon has previously said he sees the Winter Olympics as a "groundbreaking chance" to improve relations between the Koreas, the two countries still technically at war. |
| What are the doubts? | What are the doubts? |
| Some have expressed uncertainty over the significance of next week's talks and the North's possible participation in the Games. | Some have expressed uncertainty over the significance of next week's talks and the North's possible participation in the Games. |
| US Defence Secretary James Mattis said on Thursday that it was unclear whether the agreement was "a real olive branch" or a "one-off from [Mr Kim]". | US Defence Secretary James Mattis said on Thursday that it was unclear whether the agreement was "a real olive branch" or a "one-off from [Mr Kim]". |
| Japan's defence minister said his country would remain vigilant, adding that the North went through "phases of apparent dialogue and provocation" and would continue its weapons programme. | Japan's defence minister said his country would remain vigilant, adding that the North went through "phases of apparent dialogue and provocation" and would continue its weapons programme. |
| In his New Year's Day speech, Mr Kim said that Pyongyang had "achieved the goal of completing our state nuclear force in 2017", adding: "We need to mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and accelerate their deployment." | In his New Year's Day speech, Mr Kim said that Pyongyang had "achieved the goal of completing our state nuclear force in 2017", adding: "We need to mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles and accelerate their deployment." |
| North Korea has come under increasing international pressure in the past year over its nuclear weapons programme and repeated testing of conventional missiles. | North Korea has come under increasing international pressure in the past year over its nuclear weapons programme and repeated testing of conventional missiles. |
| Mr Moon has said the North's continuing tests would be the backdrop to any new discussions about the Olympics. | Mr Moon has said the North's continuing tests would be the backdrop to any new discussions about the Olympics. |