S Korea for high-level talks with North's delegation

Seoul [South Korea], Feb 5 (ANI): South Korea will seek to have high-level talks with the North Korean delegation, led by its ceremonial leader Kim Yong-nam who will attend the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on February 9, the Unification Ministry said on Monday.

"The government plans to make preparations in a way that talks between high-level government officials from the South and the North could take place in line with the North Korean delegation's attendance at the Olympic opening ceremony and other sports events during their stay here," Baik Tae-hyun, a ministry spokesman, said in a statement.

"The government hopes that the upcoming visit by the high-level North Korean delegation will become a milestone in hosting an Olympics of peace, restoring inter-Korean relations and building peace on the Korean Peninsula," he added.

The spokesman added the government will provide the necessary convenience and safety during their stay here, the Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea said that the North Korean delegation would be provided with all the necessary requirements and safety during the visit. However, the itinerary of the trip will be discussed later through the exchange of documents.

The South Korean presidential office announced that President Moon-Jae in is proposing to hold a one-on-one meeting with Yong-nam.

Yong-nam will embark on a three-day visit to South Korea on February 9, South Korea's unification ministry said on Sunday.

The North announced on Sunday that Yong-nam will be arriving at Pyeongchang for attending the Winter Olympics and will head a 22-member delegation, which included three delegates and 18 supportive staffers.

Yong-nam is the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea.

Earlier this month, North and South Korea agreed to field a joint women's ice hockey team and also march together under a unified Korea flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics.

North Korea will send 24 officials, including coaches, alongside the 22 athletes in three sports and five disciplines.

The two sides had met at the border village of Panmunjom, located along the heavily guarded Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) for working-level and military talks.

The winter games will take place from February 8 to 25. The Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics will be held between March 8 to 18.

The development between the two countries has brought some ease into their strained relations. Also, the two sides have also agreed to hold military talks on solving border tensions. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI