Kim Jong Un invites ROK's Moon to Pyongyang

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Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has invited Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in to Pyongyang, Blue House said on Saturday.

The invitation was delivered to Moon on Saturday by Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong when the DPRK's delegation held talks with the South Korean president in the Blue House. It says Kim Jong Un is willing to meet ROK's leader "at the earliest date possible."

"Special envoy Kim Yo Jong delivered a personal letter" from her brother stating his desire to "improve inter-Korean relations," said Moon's spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom, and verbally conveyed his offer to Moon "to visit the North at his most convenient time."

ROK's President Moon Jae-in (C) greets Kim Yo Jong (L), DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's sister, and the ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam (R) during their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. /AFP Photo

Moon calls for talks between the DPRK and the US

Moon did not immediately accept the offer, calling instead for efforts to "create the right conditions to realize" such a visit and urging Pyongyang to actively seek dialogue with the US, he added.

"It is absolutely necessary for the North and the United States to engage in talks at an early date," he cited Moon as saying.

The DPRK and the ROK held two summit meetings previously, both in Pyongyang.

In June 2000, late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung met with late DPRK leader Kim Jong Il, father of current leader Kim Jong Un. In October 2007, late South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun held a meeting with Kim Jong Il in the DPRK's capital.

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (R) shakes hands with DPRK leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, the DPRK, on Oct. 3, 2007. /VCG Photo

Tensions between DPRK and the US

Analysts believe the diplomatic drive by DPRK is seeking to weaken the measures against it, and could be trying to loosen the alliance between Seoul and Washington.

US Vice President Mike Pence did not interact with the DPRK officials at any point, US officials said, even though they were seated in the same box at the Olympics opening ceremony.

Kim Yo Jong and US Vice President Mike Pence attend the Winter Games opening ceremony in the same stand, Feb. 9, 2018. /AFP Photo

Pence has repeatedly said he would deliver a tough message to DPRK in any meeting.

"At the outset of any new dialogue or negotiations," he said Friday, Pyongyang had to "put denuclearization on the table and take concrete steps with the world community to dismantle, permanently and irreversibly, their nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"Denuclearization has to be the starting point of any change," he said.