South Korea announces North Korea is ready for dialogue with the US
South Korea released the information after North Korean General Kim Yong Chol had an hour-long meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae In before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
The North Korean general sat very close to the US president's daughter during the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics but the two sides did not talk - Photo: AFP
According to BBC, in response to South Korea's "message" that North Korea is ready for dialogue, the US State Department said that "any dialogue" would aim at the ultimate goal of nuclear disarmament.
"We will see whether Pyongyang's message today, saying they are willing to negotiate, represents a first step," the White House said in a statement on February 25.
“Meanwhile, the United States and the world will have to continue to make it clear that North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are headed for a dead end.”
Pyongyang has yet to confirm the proposal for talks. However, Pyongyang has always maintained that it is only willing to negotiate with Washington without any preconditions.
The US president's daughter and senior aide, Ivanka Trump, attended the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics, but she did not speak to any North Koreans, despite sitting just steps away from the North Korean general at the Olympic Stadium.
According to AFP news agency, video footage of that moment shows President Moon Jae In shaking hands first with Ivanka, then shaking hands with North Korean General Kim Yong Chol, who according to South Korea expressed his willingness to dialogue with Washington.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, also had no contact with US Vice President Mike Pence at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on February 9, even though they were only sitting a few seats apart.
On February 23, Washington announced a new set of sanctions against Pyongyang, which Mr. Trump described as "the toughest ever." Pyongyang condemned these US sanctions on February 25 when the South Korean president met with Mr. Kim Yong Chol.