DPRK will send delegation to the ROK-hosted Winter Olympics

SEOUL — The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea offered on Tuesday to send a high-ranking delegation as well as athletes and cheering squads to the ROK-hosted Winter Olympics, heralding a thaw in inter-Korean relations.

During the inter-Korean talks, which started earlier in the day in the truce village of Panmunjom, the ROK side asked the DPRK to dispatch many of its athletes and cheering squads to the 2018 Winter Olympics, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry.

The DPRK side responded more positively, saying it would dispatch its high-ranking delegation, members of the National Olympic Committee, athletes, cheering squads, a performing arts team, a demonstration team for traditional martial art taekwondo, visitors as well as press corps.

The two countries also agreed to hold a separate dialogue between their military authorities after agreeing that they should make joint efforts to ease military tensions.

During the session, the ROK proposed holding a Red Cross dialogue for the reunion of separated families during the upcoming Lunar New Year in February as well as inter-Korean talks between the military authorities to prevent possible accidental clashes near the military demarcation line.

Talks with Pyongyang about humanitarian and military issues were previously suggested by Seoul in July.

The reunion of the families divided as a result of the 195053 Korean War was an emotionally-charged issue as it was rarely held because of the political situation.

Ri said in his introductory remarks that he hoped to give the first New Year’s gift to people on the Korean Peninsula, which would be a “precious outcome” of the talks.

In response, Cho said the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games were anticipated to become a peace festival as the delegation, which he described as “precious visitors”, would come from the DPRK.

Cho said the inter-Korean dialogue was resumed after a long hiatus, asking his DPRK counterpart to continue talks with a firm will and patience.

Signs of a thaw in inter-Korean relations emerged as top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un said in an address that his country was willing to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics and talk with Seoul about it.

The following day, the ROK proposed the talks. Pyongyang accepted without changing the timing or place Seoul had suggested.