North Korea to send delegation to the Olympic Games

The meeting is the first high-level talks in more than two years

North Korea has said it will send a delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, taking place in South Korea in February, says Seoul.

The breakthrough announcement came as the countries met for their first high-level talks in more than two years. The delegation will include athletes and supporters, amongst others.

South Korea also proposed holding family reunions during the Winter Olympics for people separated by the Korean War, The issue is a highly emotional one for both countries, and South Korea has constantly been pushing for more reunions to take place.


The reunions are expected to take place during the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls in the middle of the Pyeongchang Games. Seoul also called for athletes from both Koreas to march together at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

It's not yet known how North Korea responded to those offers. The last time both countries marched together under the Korean Peninsula flag was more than 10 years ago, at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

'Taekwondo demonstration team'

The talks are talking place in the Panmunjom "peace village" in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at the border.

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Speaking afterwards, Seoul's vice unification minster Chun Hae-Sung told journalists: "The North side proposed dispatching a high-level delegation, National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, supporters, art performers, observers, a taekwondo demonstration team and journalists" to the Games.
Seoul has also called for military talks with North Korea, according to Mr Chun.

Ties between both Koreas have become increasingly tense since the last talks in 2015. Relations broke down after Seoul suspended a joint economic project at the Kaesong Industrial complex in North Korea following a rocket launch and nuclear test by the North.

The incident led to North Korea ending all communication with Seoul, including cutting off telephone lines. Tensions have risen in the years since, as the North continues to rapidly advance its banned nuclear weapons programme.