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The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea's (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) agreed to hold military talks to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula at their first official meeting in two years, a joint statement said on Tuesday.
The ROK's Unification Minister Cho Myung-Gyun (R) shakes hands with the DPRK's chief delegate Ri Son Gwon during the meeting.
After the high-level meeting lasting 11 hours, the two sides also agreed to use dialogue and negotiations to resolve problems on the peninsula and to have further meetings, including high-level talks in selected fields.
A separate statement released by the ROK's unification ministry said Seoul had asked the DPRK to stop all hostile acts that increase tensions and the DPRK had responded that it recognized the need for a peaceful environment on the peninsula.
The statement also confirmed that the DPRK will attend the Winter Olympics in the ROK next month.
"The North Korean (DPRK's) side will dispatch a National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, cheerleaders, art performers' squad, spectators, a Taekwondo demonstration team and a press corps and the South (ROK) will provide necessary amenities and facilities," it added.
The ROK's Unification Minister Cho Myung-Gyun (2nd L) speaks during a briefing after inter-Korea talks at the border truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas on January 9.
Seoul also claimed that the DPRK responded "positively" to the ROK's proposal for athletes from the two countries to march together at the Olympics' opening ceremony.
The DPRK's chief delegate Ri Son Gwon addresses the high-level meeting on January 9.
Earlier, the DPRK had reopened the military hotline with the ROK across the western border at 2:00 p.m. local time (05:00 GMT) Tuesday, and the contacts between two sides' military authorities were expected to officially start on Wednesday.
The ROK's foreign ministry spokesman had also earlier on Tuesday said Seoul would consider the temporary lifting of sanctions against the DPRK to facilitate its participation in the Olympics.
However, the joint statement did not mention Seoul's proposal for a family reunion in time for February's Lunar New Year holiday.
The inter-Korean talks, which began at 10:00 a.m. local time, were held in the truce village of Panmunjom located in the demilitarized zone between the two countries.
(CGTN)
