North And South Korea To Hold Military Talks

Reuters reports:

North and South Korea agreed to hold military talks, a joint statement said after the two Koreas engaged in formal dialogue on Tuesday for the first time in more than two years. North Korea also decided to send a high-ranking delegation and a cheering squad to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea next month, but the head of its delegation in the talks on Tuesday expressed negative sentiment over the mention of denuclearisation during Tuesday’s discussions, the South Korean government said in a statement.

ABC News reports:

Five representatives from the highest levels of both governments — including South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon and the North Korean chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, Ri Son-gwon — kicked off by meeting with a symbolic crossing by the northern delegation into the South-controlled building called House of Peace.

These are the first inter-Korean talks in 25 months. They come just eight days after the North Korean leader announced he would like to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics during his annual New Year’s Day speech. The South welcomed the proposal and followed up by reconnecting the direct communication link at the joint security area between the two Koreas. North Korea sent a delegation to the Summer Olympics in 2016 but last sent a team to the Winter Olympics in 2010, skipping the 2014 games held in Sochi, Russia.