Korean Peninsula Diplomacy: Residents of Seoul hope for successful talks, improvements in North-South relations

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Ahead of the meeting residents in Seoul expressed their expectations and hopes for the high-level dialogue. Here's what some locals had to say.

GO SUNG-NAM RESIDENT OF SEOUL "Through sports diplomacy and the South encountering the North at the Pyeongchang Olympics, we can move one step away from threats of war. It will be an opportunity to prevent any threats of war."

RESIDENT OF SEOUL "There must be lots of difficulties in the upcoming talks. But I believe, as long as both sides hold the idea that the North and South belong to the same race, there will be fruitful results."

RESIDENT OF SEOUL "I will serve in the army next month, so I hope relations between the two countries can end the standstill and confrontation."

According to a survey released earlier this week, over 54 percent of South Koreans support the idea of having their government, cover the expenses of DPRK athletes and their supporters. 63-point-6 percent of those in their 40s backed the idea to cover the expenses of Pyongyang delegates, while 58-point-5 percent in their 30s, and 53-point-3 percent of those in their 50s, answered the same.