Global Geopolitical Series: Peace Olympic in Seoul as North Korea to participate after successful talks

The next month’s winter Olympic that will be held in Seoul is widely being called as the ‘Peace Olympic’ as North Korea is set to take part in the event. North Korea’s participation in the winter Olympic has been confirmed after delegations from both the countries met for the first time since December 2015 with an aim to improve inter-Korean relations. After North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un expressed his intention to improve inter-Korean relations in his New Year speech, a communication hotline between the two countries was reopened and North Korea accepted South Korean proposal for high-level talks on January 9th.

Here are the key takeaways,

• South Korean Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung said both sides plan to re-open a military hotline on the western Korean Peninsula.
• Kim Jong-Un has been able to listen to the talks in real time via microphones installed in the Peace House and give instructions via a hotline, however, South Korea's Unification Ministry told reporters there had been no special message from the North Korean leader.
• Three separate negotiating sessions have taken place.
• North Korea has agreed to send a team to next month’s Winter Olympics to be held in Seoul.
• Seoul may be willing to temporarily suspend sanctions in order to get North Korea to attend the Winter Games next month, South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said.
• North Koreas would send high-level delegations to the Winter Olympics along with athletes.