Family reunions on N Korea talks agenda

SEOUL: South Korea will seek discussions on resuming reunions of separated families at this week’s inter-Korean talks, Seoul’s top delegate said yesterday, as the North trumpeted the importance of achieving reunification, reports AFP.

The two Koreas agreed last week to hold their first official dialogue in more than two years and will meet Tuesday at the border truce village of Panmunjom.

The talks will largely focus on the North’s participation in next month’s Winter Olympics in the South, but the two sides are also expected to bring up their own issues of interest.

“We will prepare for discussions on the issue of separated families and ways to ease military tensions,” Unification Minister Cho Myoung-Gyon told reporters, according to the Yonhap news agency.

Because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, the two Koreas remain technically at war.

Tensions soared last year as the North made rapid progress on its banned weapons programmes, launching ballistic missiles it said are capable of reaching the United States and carrying out its sixth nuclear test, by far its most powerful.

Their tentative rapprochement comes after North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un warned in his New Year speech that he had a nuclear button on his desk—but also said Pyongyang could send a team to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Seoul responded with an offer of talks, and last week the hotline between the neighbours was restored after being suspended for almost two years.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha said the North’s participation in Pyeongchang would strengthen the Games’ profile as “a peace Olympics”, Yonhap reported, and could lead to further progress.

 

 

Family reunions on N Korea talks agenda

SEOUL: South Korea will seek discussions on resuming reunions of separated families at this weeks inter-Korean talks, Seouls top delegate said yesterday, as the North trumpeted the importance of achieving reunification, reports AFP. The two Koreas agreed last week to hold their first official dialogue in more than two years and will meet Tuesday at the border truce village of Panmunjom. The talks will largely focus on the Norths participation in next months Winter Olympics in the South, but the two sides are also expected to bring up their own issues of interest. We will prepare for discussions on the issue of separated families and ways to ease military tensions, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-Gyon told reporters, according to the Yonhap news agency. Because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, the two Koreas remain technically at war. Tensions soared last year as the North made rapid progress on its banned weapons programmes, launching ballistic missiles it said are capable of reaching the United States and carrying out its sixth nuclear test, by far its most powerful. Their tentative rapprochement comes after North Koreas leader Kim Jong-Un warned in his New Year speech that he had a nuclear button on his deskbut also said Pyongyang could send a team to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Seoul responded with an offer of talks, and last week the hotline between the neighbours was restored after being suspended for almost two years. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha said the Norths participation in Pyeongchang would strengthen the Games profile as a peace Olympics, Yonhap reported, and could lead to further progress.