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North and South Korea begin high-level talks on Olympic Games | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
North and South Korea have begun high-level talks, the first between the countries in two years. | |
The meeting started at 10:00 local time (01:00 GMT) at the Peace House in the truce village of Panmunjom. | |
The talks will focus on North Korea's possible participation in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, taking place in South Korea in February. | The talks will focus on North Korea's possible participation in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, taking place in South Korea in February. |
South Korea also said it would raise ways to improve inter-Korean relations. | South Korea also said it would raise ways to improve inter-Korean relations. |
Relations between the Koreas deteriorated after Seoul suspended a joint economic project at the Kaesong Industrial complex in North Korea following a rocket launch and nuclear test by the North. | Relations between the Koreas deteriorated after Seoul suspended a joint economic project at the Kaesong Industrial complex in North Korea following a rocket launch and nuclear test by the North. |
The incident led to North Korea breaking off communications with Seoul, including cutting off telephone contact. The last high-level talks between the two countries were in December 2015. | |
Tensions have risen in the years since as the North continues to rapidly advance its banned weapons programme. | Tensions have risen in the years since as the North continues to rapidly advance its banned weapons programme. |
'They will go well' | |
Both sides are sending five-member delegations to the talks, who spoke to media ahead of the session. | |
"Today we'll engage in talks to discuss North Korea's participation in the Winter Olympics, as well as the improvement of inter-Korean relations," said Seoul's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon who is leading the delegation. | |
The North's delegation is led by Ri Son-gwon, the chairman of North Korea's state agency in charge of affairs with the South and veteran negotiator. | |
Mr Ri told reporters: "Today, North and South Korea will engage in talks in a serious and sincere stance." | |
"They will go well," he said. | |
North Korean leader leadership expert Michael Madden told the BBC that we were seeing the "baby steps of incremental rapprochement". | |
"Both Koreas are proceeding cautiously, but what they would like to see happen is [the meeting] becoming a springboard for further contacts and interactions," North Korean leadership expert Michael Madden told the BBC. | "Both Koreas are proceeding cautiously, but what they would like to see happen is [the meeting] becoming a springboard for further contacts and interactions," North Korean leadership expert Michael Madden told the BBC. |
The delegates are meeting in Panmunjom village that lies in the heavily guarded demilitarised zone (DMZ) and is where the two sides have historically held talks. | |
What is the significance of Panmunjom? | What is the significance of Panmunjom? |
After the Korean war ended in a truce in 1953, Panmunjom was designated as the one place where officials from both sides could meet. | After the Korean war ended in a truce in 1953, Panmunjom was designated as the one place where officials from both sides could meet. |
The "truce village" is divided into two parts by a military demarcation line: one side belonging to the North, the other to the South. | The "truce village" is divided into two parts by a military demarcation line: one side belonging to the North, the other to the South. |
In the middle of the village sit the UN Command buildings, crossing the middle of the line. | In the middle of the village sit the UN Command buildings, crossing the middle of the line. |
Last year, a North Korean defector made a dash through the DMZ, managing to cross over to the South Korean side of Panmunjom. | Last year, a North Korean defector made a dash through the DMZ, managing to cross over to the South Korean side of Panmunjom. |
'Groundbreaking chance' | 'Groundbreaking chance' |
Last week South Korea offered high-level talks with the North, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he was considering sending a team to the Olympics in Pyeongchang | Last week South Korea offered high-level talks with the North, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he was considering sending a team to the Olympics in Pyeongchang |
The move led to North Korea restoring a telephone hotline to South Korea, enabling the first contact about holding talks. Pyongyang later accepted the South's offer of talks. | The move led to North Korea restoring a telephone hotline to South Korea, enabling the first contact about holding talks. Pyongyang later accepted the South's offer of talks. |
South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said he saw the Winter Olympic Games as a "groundbreaking chance" to improve relations between the Koreas. | South Korea's President Moon Jae-in said he saw the Winter Olympic Games as a "groundbreaking chance" to improve relations between the Koreas. |
US President Donald Trump called the talks a "big start", adding that it would be a "great thing for all of humanity" if they resulted in a positive outcome. | US President Donald Trump called the talks a "big start", adding that it would be a "great thing for all of humanity" if they resulted in a positive outcome. |