South Korea to send envoy to DPRK

South Korean President Moon Jae-in yesterday told US President Donald Trump that he plans to send a special envoy to Pyongyang, his office said, the latest in the Olympic-driven detente between the two Koreas.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and South Korea marched in the Games opening ceremony together behind a unification flag, and Moon shared a historic handshake with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong.

“In response to the visit by DPRK’s special envoy Kim Yo Jong ... Moon conveyed to Trump his plans to dispatch a special envoy to DPRK soon,” Seoul’s presidential office said.

The two presidents also “agreed to maintain the momentum in inter-Korean dialog and to continue efforts so it leads to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” it said.

Moon has sought to use the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, that ended on Sunday, to open dialog between Washington and Pyongyang in the hopes of easing a nuclear standoff that has sparked global security fears.

Pyongyang mounted a charm offensive during the Games, sending athletes, cheerleaders and high-level delegations following months of tensions over its nuclear and missile programs.

Moon, who advocates dialog with DPRK to defuse tension, said on Monday that Washington needs to “lower the threshold for talks” with DPRK.

(AFP)