South and North Korea open talks to discuss details of North's participation at Paralympics
- 6 years ago
Our top story this afternoon...
Representatives from South and North Korea are currently in talks to discuss the North's participation at the PyeongChang Paralympics next month.
They're looking to carry on the momentum from the Olympics, where the North's participation went by smoothly.
We have on the line Kwon Jang-ho, our correspondent at the unification ministry.
Are there any updates from the talks, Jang-ho.
Good afternoon, Mark.'
No word yet on how the talks are going. They met about about two hours ago, at the border village of Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone.
But if going from recent instances of talks, we can expect them to be breaking up for lunch soon.
Today's talks include three representatives from each side, including officials representing inter-Korean affairs and Paralympic bodies.
The topic of discussion is arranging the details of the North's participation at the PyeongChang Paralympics that will start on March 9th.
They include the exact number of athletes, what events they will take part in, as well as their travel arrangements, accommodation and other logistical issues.
This carries on from talks last month, where the two Korea's made an initial agreement that Pyongyang would send a 150-member delegation, that also includes an art troupe and cheering squad.
It's similar to the arrangements that were made for the Olympics, but on a smaller scale as that delegation consisted of almost 500 members.
The South Korean chief, Lee Joo-tae, said before he left for Panmunjeom this morning that he would do everything he can to continue the mood towards improving inter-Korean relations.
We also understand that another North Korean delegation that has been in the South over the last three days are now on their way back to the North...
That's right.
The delegation, headed by the controversial North Korean General, Kim Yong-chol, arrived at the inter-Korean border checkpoint about half an hour ago, and he is said to have crossed over the border back to the North.
It concludes a three-day trip to the South, that involved attending the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics, and meeting with President Moon Jae-in and other South Korean officials.
During his time here, he expressed that North Korea have a willingness to talk with the U.S. and that relations needed to improve.
But that didn't mean he was willing to talk to the U.S. just yet.
Washington had also sent a delegation for the closing ceremony, headed by the First Daughter Ivanka Trump, and other White House officials.
But the U.S. said that there had been no interaction with the North Koreans.
Despite Kim Yong-chol's high profile visit, Seoul has largely kept his schedule in South Korea away from the media.
We wait to see whether Seoul will release further details from his visit in the coming days.
Back to you, Mark.
Representatives from South and North Korea are currently in talks to discuss the North's participation at the PyeongChang Paralympics next month.
They're looking to carry on the momentum from the Olympics, where the North's participation went by smoothly.
We have on the line Kwon Jang-ho, our correspondent at the unification ministry.
Are there any updates from the talks, Jang-ho.
Good afternoon, Mark.'
No word yet on how the talks are going. They met about about two hours ago, at the border village of Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone.
But if going from recent instances of talks, we can expect them to be breaking up for lunch soon.
Today's talks include three representatives from each side, including officials representing inter-Korean affairs and Paralympic bodies.
The topic of discussion is arranging the details of the North's participation at the PyeongChang Paralympics that will start on March 9th.
They include the exact number of athletes, what events they will take part in, as well as their travel arrangements, accommodation and other logistical issues.
This carries on from talks last month, where the two Korea's made an initial agreement that Pyongyang would send a 150-member delegation, that also includes an art troupe and cheering squad.
It's similar to the arrangements that were made for the Olympics, but on a smaller scale as that delegation consisted of almost 500 members.
The South Korean chief, Lee Joo-tae, said before he left for Panmunjeom this morning that he would do everything he can to continue the mood towards improving inter-Korean relations.
We also understand that another North Korean delegation that has been in the South over the last three days are now on their way back to the North...
That's right.
The delegation, headed by the controversial North Korean General, Kim Yong-chol, arrived at the inter-Korean border checkpoint about half an hour ago, and he is said to have crossed over the border back to the North.
It concludes a three-day trip to the South, that involved attending the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics, and meeting with President Moon Jae-in and other South Korean officials.
During his time here, he expressed that North Korea have a willingness to talk with the U.S. and that relations needed to improve.
But that didn't mean he was willing to talk to the U.S. just yet.
Washington had also sent a delegation for the closing ceremony, headed by the First Daughter Ivanka Trump, and other White House officials.
But the U.S. said that there had been no interaction with the North Koreans.
Despite Kim Yong-chol's high profile visit, Seoul has largely kept his schedule in South Korea away from the media.
We wait to see whether Seoul will release further details from his visit in the coming days.
Back to you, Mark.