Coreic effort

In the village of Phanmunge in a demilitarized zone separating the North and South Korea, negotiations between the ministers of the two states began, Yonhapreports . The first meeting at this level in more than two years takes place closed.

The DPRK delegation is headed by the Chairman of the Committee on the peaceful unification of the Motherland Lee Song Gvon. “I came here with the hope that two Korea would conduct negotiations with sincere and honest intentions to bring precious results to the Korean people who have high hopes for this meeting, as for the first New Year's gift,” the North Korean minister said.

The Minister of Affairs of the National Association Cho Meun Gyun, heading the delegation of South Korea, noted that the main topic of the meeting should be the potential participation of the DPRK in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. However, the parties also plan to discuss ways to improve inter -Korean relations. The minister expressed the hope that negotiations would open the way to solve the nuclear problem of North Korea and to start a dialogue between the United States and the DPRK.

The parties should discuss whether two Korea will be held together under a single Korean flag at the opening and closing ceremony of the Olympics. In addition, travel routes and accommodation of members of the North Korean delegation, as well as security issues require coordination. North Korea intends to send a high rank delegation to the games, Yonhap reports. In addition, North Korean artists can take part in the cultural program of the Olympiad.

In the New Year's appeal, the North Korean leader Kim Jong -un said the question of sending the DPRK delegation to the Winter Olympic Games in South Korean Pyeongchang . "The participation of North Korea in winter games will be a good opportunity to demonstrate national pride, and we wish the games to be successful. The officials of the two Kores can urgently meet to discuss this opportunity," he said.

At the same time, Kim noted that in 2017, North Korea completed the creation of its nuclear forces. “We completed the creation of the national nuclear forces of our country,” said the North Korean leader. “The nuclear button lies on my desktop.” Thanks to the presence of the nuclear forces of the deterrence in Pyongyan, the US will not be able to start the war "against the DPRK, Kim emphasized.

Nevertheless, Kim declared the DPRK the "peace -loving and responsible nuclear power" and called for a decrease in military tension on the Korean peninsula. “When it comes to relations between the North and the South, we must reduce military tension on the Korean Peninsula to create a peaceful situation,” said the North Korean leader. “Both the north and south should make efforts.”

On January 3, Kim ordered to start negotiations with South Korea through a special connection in Phanmunjom. On the same day, the North Korean side for the first time in several years opened this line of communication. Representatives of the two countries held 20-minute negotiations on it, discussing the technical problems of upcoming contacts.