Games over

SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea’s delegation to the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics left South Korea on Tuesday after a visit in which the former general suspected of masterminding deadly 2010 military attacks told Seoul officials the North is willing to talk with Washington.

The delegation’s return home completes North Korea’s diplomatic outreach to the South during the Pyeongchang Olympics that was seen as an attempt to break out from the isolation and pressure North Korea faces over its nuclear programme.

In a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in shortly before the Olympic closing ceremony on Sunday, Kim Yong-chol, currently vice-chairperson of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee, said the North has “ample intentions” for holding talks with the US, Moon’s office said.

President Donald Trump responded to North Korea’s overture by saying talks with North Korea will happen only if conditions are right.

The North sent the sister of ruler Kim Jong-Un to the opening of the Olympics as a special envoy.

Kim Yo-Jong told Moon at a luncheon that her brother wishes to meet Moon in North Korea soon.