05 March, 2018
Special envoys for South Korean President Moon Jae-in reportedly met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Monday.
Moon's office said the envoys were to meet with North Korean officials and to attend a dinner hosted by Kim. Observers note that this would be unusual for a North Korean leader. Kim has not met with any foreign leaders since he took power in 2011 after the death of his father Kim Jong il.
Moon's national security advisor, Chung Eui-Yong, led the 10-member delegation. The head of South Korea's National Intelligence Service is also in the delegation. The group traveled on a rare direct flight from Seoul to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital.
The envoys brought a message from Moon about removing all nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula and peace between the two Koreas.
Chung spoke to reporters before leaving for the trip. He said he would "deliver President Moon's firm resolve to achieve a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and genuine and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula."
Chung said he would seek "in-depth" discussions to find a way to restart talks between North Korea and the U.S.
"For this, we plan to have in-depth discussion not only on South-North talks, but also ways to continue talks between North Korea and the international community, including the United States," he said.
However, the diplomatic effort faces North Korean opposition to planned military drills to be held between the South and the U.S. in April. North Korea's KCNA news agency warned that the North would, in its words, "counter the U.S." if it holds the joint exercises as currently planned.
The military joint exercises were postponed because of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea last month.
Kim Jong Un sent his sister and chief of state Kim Yong Nam to the opening ceremonies of the Games. He also sent high-level party official Kim Yong Chol to the closing ceremonies.
Moon spoke by telephone with U.S. President Donald Trump about the visit last week. After the two-day visit is complete, the South Korean special envoys are to travel to the U.S. to discuss their contact with the North.
North Korean officials have told Moon that they are willing to restart talks with the U.S. And the U.S. president has said he also is willing to hold talks, but only "under the right conditions."
The U.S. placed another set of sanctions on the North last month that target individuals, companies and ships.
Those restrictions are in addition to United Nations Security Council sanctions put in place since early 2016.
I'm Mario Ritter.
Mario Ritter adapted this for VOA Learning English based on AP and VOA news reports. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in This Story
envoy –n. a person sent by a government to represent it in talks with another government
determination –n. the quality of continuing to work or try at something that is difficult
genuine –adj. real, true or honest
drills –n. practice or exercises done to increase preparation and skills
sanctions –n. punishments usually in the form of trade restrictions meant to force a country to obey international law
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