North Korea and South Korea Hold Highest-Level Talks in Years:The two Koreas held their highest-level talks in years as a surprise visit by top North Korean officials to South Korea for a sporting event allowed the governments to break a diplomatic deadlock. South Korea’s Unification Ministry said in a statement the two sides agreed to hold further high-level talks between late October and early November. The North Korean group expressed a willingness to continue conversation with South Korea, the ministry said. While the sudden visit of senior North Korean officials was ostensibly for their attendance at the Asian Games event, the first trip to South Korea in more than five years by top executives from the North appeared to represent a thaw in relations. North Korea has shunned South Korea’s advances in recent months to discuss issues such as reunions of families separated by the Korean War and economic cooperation. Instead, it has railed against military drills in the South, staged more than 100 missile tests and showered caustic rhetoric on the administration of President Park Geun-hye. The visit by the North Korean officials comes as speculation swirls about North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, who hasn’t been seen in public since the start of September. South Korean officials suspect Mr. Kim is being treating for health problems. The North Korean leader was seen limping in video footage this year, prompting some observers to speculate that he might have gout or problems with his ankles. North Korea hasn’t described Mr. Kim’s health condition other than a brief reference to his experiencing “discomfort” in a recent media report. -- a strong sign Kim will be history. m.wsj/articles/north-korea-sends-delegation-to-south-korea-for-closing-of-asian-games-1412385844?mobile=y
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 12:38:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015