© Sputnik/ Ilya Pitalev
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the reopening of a contact channel between Pyongyang and Seoul to discuss issues related to the upcoming Olympic games in Pyeongchang, Ri Son Gwon, the head of North Korea’s agency handling inter-Korean affairs, said as quoted by the Yonhap news agency.
“I was instructed to open the Panmunjom [the shared border village] contact channel between North and South at 15:00 [3:30 p.m. in Seoul, 6:30 GMT] in order to settle issues related to hosting the PyeongChang Olympic Games, including sending [North Korea’s] delegation to the Games,” Ri said.
The officials added that Pyongyang would closely work with Seoul on practical issues related to sending the country’s delegation to the upcoming sports event, based upon the leadership’s stance, and expressed the hope that the Olympics would be successful.
“We sincerely wish once again that the PyeongChang Olympic Games will be held successfully,” Ri said.
Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea’s presidential office welcomed the announcement.
“I believe it signals a move toward an environment where communication will be possible at all times,” Yoon Young-chan, the chief presidential spokesman, told reporters, as quoted by the news agency.
Pyongyang’s statement came a day after Seoul proposed high-level discussions with the DPRK following Kim’s New Year’s address in which he had stressed he was willing to launch a dialogue with South Korea.
Meanwhile, US Envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned in a statement on Tuesday that Washington would not recognize any talks between the two Koreas unless the nuclear issue is resolved and all of their nuclear weapons banned. . .
The Most Revolutionary Act 
Talk about arrogance on the part of the United States! That is arrogance, personified for Nikki Haley to state that the U.S. will not recognize any talks between the two Koreas. What talks go on between North and South Korea should be the business of North and South Korea because both are KOREA!
The U.S. has nuclear weapons, Israel has nuclear weapons, Russia has nuclear weapons and so do other countries and so once again, how is it the U.S. gets to decide which countries can and cannot have nuclear weapons? Other countries should have the ability to at least try and defend their people, especially with the reputation the U.S. has for flat out lying in order to start wars and then proceeded to assassinate said country’s leader, which also was the case with Libya. This just makes my blood boil!
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Let me tell you, my own blood is pretty close to boiling, Shelby. With South Korea elected a pro-unification government, it looks to me like the US has pretty much lost control of the Korea narrative – unification is going to proceed no matter what Trump does. I think that’s a positive though, like you say, I’m an incorrigible optimist.
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Bless your heart! And may you always stay that way, optimistic! We could all use some of what you’ve got, Dr. Bramhall!
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I wouldn’t be surprised if China has given both NK and the US the nod that they won’t be getting involved in this any more
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You could be right, Calvin. I guess time will tell.
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screw that sob and his endless machines the great nuclear race,im departed
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the north Koreans don’t have electricity ,they beat my real papa
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Tubularsock agrees with Nikki Haley to a point. Yes the the nuclear issue should be resolved!
Tubularsock suggests that North and South Korea develop the BOMB together!
Now that would resolve the nuclear issue, right?
And Tubularsock would politely suggest if they need a test sight, ahhh anyone know Nikki’s address?
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Excellent idea, Tube. Who would have dreamed it? A walking talking Barbie Doll who spews real proto fascist venom?
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