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| The joint Korean women's ice hockey team members say farewell to each other as the North Korean players leave the athletes' village in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Monday, a day after the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. / Yonhap |
Moon underscores China's role in NK-US talks
By Kim Rahn
A North Korean delegation visiting South Korea reaffirmed that the North was willing to talk with the United States, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Monday.
It added there would be no preconditions in opening the dialogue.
According to a senior Cheong Wa Dae official, Kim Yong-chol, head of the Workers' Party of Korea's United Front Department, said Pyongyang has already expressed its willingness for talks with Washington multiple times.
Kim's remarks came during a lunch meeting with Seoul officials ― National Security Office (NSO) head Chung Eui-yong, NSO deputy head Nam Gwan-pyo, Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung and Seoul's top nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon.
Kim arrived in the South to attend the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, along with seven other officials including Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.
Regarding the remarks of "expressed willingness for talks over multiple times," the Cheong Wa Dae official said on condition of anonymity, "It is unclear whether it means open announcements or under-the-table contacts with the U.S. We presume both."
Kim also talked about the North's willingness for Pyongyang-Washington talks during his meeting with President Moon Jae-in before the closing ceremony.
Kim did not lay out any preconditions for opening the talks, such as demanding the South and the U.S. recognize the North as a nuclear state, the official said.
But the delegates did not clearly say the envisioned Washington-Pyongyang talks would be about denuclearization of the North, as sought by the U.S. During Sunday's meeting, Moon stressed the need for denuclearization, according to the Cheong Wa Dae official.
Through today, the North Korean delegation is expected to have more talks with other South Korean officials over various inter-Korean issues and denuclearization, including Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon.
The government did not disclose the details of the delegation's schedule, apparently mindful of negative public sentiment, especially from conservatives, over the visit of Kim. He is suspected of having orchestrated a torpedo attack on the South Korean Navy frigate Cheonan that killed 46 sailors.
On inter-Korean issues, the two sides are expected to discuss what exchanges to have, when to hold military talks and whether to hold regular high-level talks.
The delegation also includes Choe Kang-il, a senior North Korean diplomat in charge of North American affairs. Along with the meeting with nuclear envoy Lee, Choe's inclusion increases speculation the two Koreas may hold detailed talks over Washington-Pyongyang dialogue for denuclearization.
China's role with NK
Earlier Monday, President Moon met with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong, who also came here to attend the closing ceremony.
He called on China for increased support and cooperation to develop the current reconciliatory mood between the two Koreas into talks between Washington and Pyongyang on the North's denuclearization.
"I asked China to actively support and cooperate for inter-Korean talks for peace and U.S.-North Korea talks for denuclearization," Moon said.
Liu said the PyeongChang Games realized the Olympic spirit of peace, harmony and friendship, and provided momentum to relieve tension on the Korean Peninsula.
"This is gaining much global attention," she said. "For not only the smooth operation of the Games but also the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula, the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be remembered forever."
Meanwhile, the delegation of 299 North Koreans including athletes, the cheerleading squad and journalists returned to the North.
They took a land route in the western part of the peninsula and crossed the Military Demarcation Line at 12:38 p.m.
They said they would miss the Olympics and expressed hopes for more opportunities for a unified team with South Korea, according to pool reporters. "I won't forget this Olympics. I felt we (two Koreas) were one. I hope such chances will come often," a North Korean told South Korean reporters.
