Politics
17:51, 21-Feb-2018
ROK to focus on talks for denuclearized Korea Peninsula after Winter Olympics
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The Republic of Korea's (ROK) foreign ministry said on Wednesday that it will place its focus on talks for the denuclearized Korean Peninsula after the end of the 23rd Winter Olympics.
According to the ministry report submitted to the National Assembly, the ROK will focus its diplomatic efforts on keeping up momentum in the talks, created by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s participation in the Winter Olympics, which will hopefully lead to the peaceful settlement on the peninsula and the peaceful resolution of the DPRK's nuclear issue.
President of the ROK's Moon Jae-in, his wife Kim Jung-sook, above them President of the DPRK's Kim Yong Nam and Kim Yo Jong, sister of President of the DPRK's Kim Jong Un salute the athletes look on during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on Feb. 9, 2018 in the ROK. /VCG Photo
President of the ROK's Moon Jae-in, his wife Kim Jung-sook, above them President of the DPRK's Kim Yong Nam and Kim Yo Jong, sister of President of the DPRK's Kim Jong Un salute the athletes look on during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on Feb. 9, 2018 in the ROK. /VCG Photo
The ROK will stably manage situations after the end of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics to create conditions for continued dialogue based on a firm alliance with the United States, while seeking dialogue to resolve the DPRK's nuclear issue, the report said.
The DPRK sent athletes, cheerleaders, and a high-ranking delegation to the ROK-hosted winter sports event, boosting hopes for a thaw in ties between the two Koreas.
The high-ranking DPRK delegation, which included Kim Yo Jong, a younger sister of top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, attended the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics earlier this month and met with ROK's President Moon Jae-in.
During the meeting with Moon, Kim Yo Jong delivered the DPRK leader's invitation to the ROK's leader to visit Pyongyang at a convenient time.
The ROK's President Moon Jae-in (L) greeting the DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong (C) as the DPRK's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam (R) looking on before their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Feb. 11, 2018. /VCG Photo
The ROK's President Moon Jae-in (L) greeting the DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong (C) as the DPRK's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam (R) looking on before their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on Feb. 11, 2018. /VCG Photo
In response, Moon said the two Koreas should create conditions to make it happen, asking the DPRK side to more actively seek dialogue with the United States.
The foreign ministry report said the ROK will continue to resume dialogue between the DPRK and the United States, while deterring the DPRK's provocation by maintaining a strongly combined defense posture with the US forces.
During a telephone conversation in January, President Moon and US President Donald Trump shared a possibility for the ongoing inter-Korean talks to naturally lead to talks between the DPRK and the United States.
Since the DPRK leader showed his willingness to improve ties with the ROK during his New Year's address, the first senior-level inter-Korean dialogue in over two years was held on Jan. 9 in the truce village of Panmunjom.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency