KIM JONG UN SURPRISES OBSERVERS BY PERSONALLY HOSTING DINNER FOR SOUTH KOREAN DELEGATION.

TAIPEI • Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s reclusive leader, was hosting a dinner for a top level South Korean delegation to Pyongyang Monday in an unprecedented boost to an ongoing diplomatic détente that has raised hopes of future talks over the hermit nation’s nuclear program.

Moon Jae- in, the South Korean president, dispatched Chung Eui-yong, his national security head, and Suh Hoon, his intelligence chief, to lead a 10- member delegation on a two-day trip to the North Korean capital.

The delegation will hold talks that could pave the way for a possible summit meeting between the leaders of South and North Korea, after Kim last month invited Moon to visit Pyongyang. They will also discuss how to resume dialogue between the U. S. and North Korea over its nuclear and weapons programme. Kim’s barrage of weapons tests over the last year has raised fears of war.

It was not known until the delegation landed in the North whether Kim would personally meet them in what would be his first encounter with South Korean officials since coming to power in 2011.

Kim’s dinner invitation was confirmed by South Korea’s presidential office. The envoys are carrying a letter from Moon to hand to their host.

They were welcomed by Ri Son- gwon, chief of a North Korean agency in charge of inter- Korean affairs.

Before leaving for Pyongyang, Chung said he will relay to North Korea Moon’s hopes f or North Korean nuclear disarmament and a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

“I will certainly deliver President Moon’s firm resolve to achieve a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and genuine and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Chung said.

“I plan to hold in- depth discussions on various ways to continue talks between not only the South and the North, but also the North and the United States and the international community,” he added.

Moon and his aides have repeatedly stressed the importance of talks between Washington and Pyongyang.

Analysts, however, pointed out that while the envoys’ visit could facilitate a future summit, the nuclear issue could not be avoided.

President Donald Trump said talks with North Korea will happen only “under the right conditions.” Moon has yet to accept Kim’s invitation to visit Pyongyang for what would be the third inter-Korean summit talks. The past two summit talks, one in 2000 and the other in 2007, were held between Kim’s late father, Kim Jong Il, and two liberal South Korean presidents.

Some experts say t he North’s outreach during the Olympics was an attempt to use improved ties with South Korea as a way to break out of diplomatic isolation and weaken U. S.-led international sanctions and pressure on the country