North Korea’s Kim Jong-un meets South Korea envoys in Pyongyang
AlJazeera News, March 5, 2018
Kim hosts
dinner with South Korean president's special envoys, according to South Korean
media.
North
Korea staged its most powerful nuclear test last year [KCNA/Reuters]
North
Korean leader Kim Jong-un
has met high-ranking South Korean officials, South Korean news agency Yonhap
said.According
to the South Korean presidential office, Kim hosted a dinner with South Korean
President Moon Jae-in's
special envoys on Monday, Yonhap reported.
It is
believed to be the first time the North Korean leader has met South Korean
officials since he took office in 2011.
The
meeting comes as a delegation of South Korean officials travelled to North Korea
on Monday to discuss bilateral relations between the two, rival neighbours and
potential dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang administrations.
According
to US
media, the South Korean envoys are also expected to put forward the president's
wishes for nuclear disarmament in the Korean Peninsula, as well as encouraging
peaceful dialogue between both nations in the hope of restoring diplomatic
ties.
After the
two-day visit to North Korea, the delegation will travel to the US to brief
officials there on their discussions in Pyongyang.
The South
Korean delegation travelled to North Korea on Monday [Jung Yeon-je/Reuters]
Korean delegation travelled to North Korea on Monday [Jung Yeon-je/Reuters]
The
delegation’s visit is the latest chapter in a remarkable detente achieved
through the recently concluded Winter Olympics, where North Korean athletes
were accorded warm welcome.
delegation’s visit is the latest chapter in a remarkable detente achieved
through the recently concluded Winter Olympics, where North Korean athletes
were accorded warm welcome.
The trip
is in response to an invitation offered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s
sister for South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit Pyongyang.
is in response to an invitation offered by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s
sister for South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit Pyongyang.
Senior
North Korean officials, led by Kim’s sister, visited South Korea
during last month’s Winter Olympics.
North Korean officials, led by Kim’s sister, visited South Korea
during last month’s Winter Olympics.
Tensions
high
high
The
isolated, impoverished North staged its most powerful nuclear test and
test-fired multiple missiles last year, including some capable of hitting the
US mainland, in defiance of UN
sanctions.
isolated, impoverished North staged its most powerful nuclear test and
test-fired multiple missiles last year, including some capable of hitting the
US mainland, in defiance of UN
sanctions.
North
Korea’s leader Kim and US President Donald Trump
have traded threats of war and personal insults, sending tensions soaring.
Korea’s leader Kim and US President Donald Trump
have traded threats of war and personal insults, sending tensions soaring.
Moon, who
advocates dialogue with the nuclear-armed regime, said last week that
Washington needs to “lower the threshold for talks” with Pyongyang.
advocates dialogue with the nuclear-armed regime, said last week that
Washington needs to “lower the threshold for talks” with Pyongyang.
However,
the US has ruled out any possibility of talks before the North takes steps
towards denuclearisation, and imposed what Trump hailed as the “toughest
ever” sanctions on Kim’s regime late last month.
the US has ruled out any possibility of talks before the North takes steps
towards denuclearisation, and imposed what Trump hailed as the “toughest
ever” sanctions on Kim’s regime late last month.
On
Saturday, a foreign ministry spokesman in Pyongyang called on the US to drop
any preconditions for talks.
Saturday, a foreign ministry spokesman in Pyongyang called on the US to drop
any preconditions for talks.
