ROK to focus on talks for denuclearized Korean Peninsula after Winter Olympics

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s foreign ministry said Wednesday that it will place its focus on talks for the denuclearized Korean Peninsula after the end of the 23rd Winter Olympics, which are going on in the country's east county of Pyeongchang.

According to the ministry report submitted to the National Assembly, the ROK will focus its diplomatic efforts at a dialogue momentum, created by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s participation in the Winter Olympics, leading to the peace settlement on the peninsula and the peaceful resolution of the DPRK's nuclear issue.

The ROK will stably manage situations after the end of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics to create conditions for continued dialogue based on a firm alliance with the United States, while seeking dialogue to resolve the DPRK's nuclear issue, the report said.

The DPRK sent athletes, cheerleaders, and a high-ranking delegation to the ROK-hosted winter sports event, boosting hopes for a thaw in ties between the two Koreas.

The high-ranking DPRK delegation, which included Kim Yo-jong, a younger sister of top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, attended the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics earlier this month and met with ROK's?President Moon Jae-in.

During the meeting with Moon, Kim Yo-jong delivered the DPRK leader's invitation to the ROK's leader to visit Pyongyang at his convenient time.

In response, Moon said the two Koreas should create conditions to make it happen, asking the DPRK side to more actively seek dialogue with the United States.

The foreign ministry report said ROK will continue efforts at the resumption of dialogue between the DPRK and the United States, while deterring the DPRK's provocation by maintaining a strongly combined defense posture with the US forces.

During a telephone conversation in January, President Moon and US President Donald Trump shared a possibility for the ongoing inter-Korean talks naturally leading to talks between the DPRK and the United States.

Since the DPRK leader showed his willingness to improve ties with ROK during his New Year's address, the first senior-level inter-Korean dialogue in over two years was held on Jan 9 in the truce village of Panmunjom.