Global Geopolitical Series: Mark your calendars for high-level North and South Korea talks on 9th January

North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-Un, in his New Year address, wished for peace in the Korean Peninsula and expressed interest in sending high-level delegations to South Korea to the Winter Olympics to be held in Seoul. While he warned Washington that he stands ready to defend his country with the nuclear weapon, he added that Korea wants to be recognized as a responsible nuclear power, which would use such weapons only when attacked.

On Tuesday, in response to Kim’s speech, South Korea proposed holding talks with North Korean delegations on January 9th to discuss North’s participation in the Winter Olympics and other measures to improve ties between the two countries, which have technically remained at war over the past six decades. Seoul’s unification minister in charge of inter-Korean relations offered high-ranking government talks with North Korea next Tuesday at the border village of Panmunjom. It would be the first official meeting between the two Koreas since 2015.

The proposal came after South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday ordered his staff to act swiftly on Mr. Kim’s offer of dialogue.