Korean hope
SoKo-NoKo Olympic talks eyed
South Korea on Tuesday offered high-level talks with North Korea meant to find ways to cooperate on the Winter Olympics set to begin in the South next month.
The overture from Seoul came a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said in his New Year’s address that he’s willing to send a delegation to the Olympics, although he also repeated nuclear threats against the United States.
Analysts say Kim may be trying to drive a wedge between Seoul and Washington as a way to ease international isolation and sanctions against North Korea.
South Korean Unification Minster Cho Myoung-gyon says the South proposes the two Koreas meet Jan. 9 at the border village of Panmunjom to discuss Olym- pic cooperation and how to improve overall ties.
If the talks are realized, Cho said South Korea will first focus on Olympic cooperation but also try to discuss a restoration of strained ties between the Koreas.
“The Winter Olympic Games that will be held soon in the South will be a good opportunity to dis- play the status of the Korean nation, and we sincerely wish that the event will be held with good results,” North Korean dictator Kim said during in his address.
“It’s about time that the North and the South sit down and seriously discuss how to improve inter-Korean relations by ourselves and dramatically open up,” Kim said, adding that officials from both countries should “urgently meet” to discuss the possibility of North Korea sending a delegation to the Olympics.
Kim’s peace overture is a tactical shift after previously shunning negotiations with Seoul.
The Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang, about 50 miles from the North Korean border, from Feb. 9 to Feb. 25.