Politics
11:24, 05-Mar-2018
ROK delegation departs for Pyongyang, to push DPRK talks with US
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A Republic of Korea (ROK) delegation led by senior security officials left for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday afternoon in a mission to try to promote dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington.
The 10-member delegation is led by Chung Eui-yong, top national security adviser to Moon and head of the National Security Office of the Blue House.
Chung is accompanied by National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon, Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung, second Deputy NIS Director Kim Sang-gyun and Yun Kun-young, a senior Blue House official.
Thawing relations between the DPRK and ROK have prompted speculation of future direct talks between Washington and Pyongyang after months of tension and exchanges of insults between Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un that have fueled fears of war.
US President Donald Trump (L) and DPRK Leader Kim Jong Un (R). /VCG Photo
US President Donald Trump (L) and DPRK Leader Kim Jong Un (R). /VCG Photo
The DPRK has not carried out any weapon tests since late November when it tested its largest intercontinental ballistic missile. Inter-Korean talks began after Kim stated in his New Year’s address he wanted to send a delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The DPRK sent athletes and high-ranking officials including Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, to the PyeongChang Games in February.
Both the DPRK and the United States have expressed their willingness to talk to each other, but Washington demands Pyongyang to “denuke” first, while the DPRK says it will not sit with the United States under preconditions.
(Top image: ROK President Moon Jae-in meets with a high-level delegation of the DPRK led by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea earlier in February. /VCG Photo)
(With input from Xinhua)
Source(s): Reuters