This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-43189691

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
North Korea willing to hold talks with US, says South Korea North Korea willing to hold talks with US, says South Korea
(about 3 hours later)
North Korea is willing to hold talks with the US, South Korea says.North Korea is willing to hold talks with the US, South Korea says.
The announcement came after Gen Kim Yong-chol met South Korean President Moon Jae-in before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.The announcement came after Gen Kim Yong-chol met South Korean President Moon Jae-in before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka also attended the ceremony, but US officials have ruled out meeting the North Korean delegation. The US state department responded by saying nuclear disarmament must be the end goal of "any dialogue".
The US says North Koreans pulled out of a meeting with Vice-President Mike Pence during the opening ceremony. "We will see if Pyongyang's message today, that it is willing to hold talks, represents the first steps," it said in a statement.
Pyongyang has not confirmed the offer, but it has often said it is willing to talk without any preconditions.
US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka also attended the closing ceremony, but she is not expected to talk with any North Koreans, even though she sat a few feet from Gen Kim at the Olympic Stadium.
The Korean peninsula has been divided since the 1950-53 war and the two sides have never signed a peace treaty.The Korean peninsula has been divided since the 1950-53 war and the two sides have never signed a peace treaty.
The rapprochement between the two Koreas has been seen as a move by the North to drive a wedge between the South and the US.The rapprochement between the two Koreas has been seen as a move by the North to drive a wedge between the South and the US.
Experts have cautioned that the latest developments do not put an end to underlying regional tensions, particularly following last year's nuclear and missile tests carried out by the North.Experts have cautioned that the latest developments do not put an end to underlying regional tensions, particularly following last year's nuclear and missile tests carried out by the North.
Medals and mediationMedals and mediation
By Stephen McDonell, BBC News, PyeongchangBy Stephen McDonell, BBC News, Pyeongchang
The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics ended as it started with geopolitics being played out in a packed stadium and in front of a global television audience.The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics ended as it started with geopolitics being played out in a packed stadium and in front of a global television audience.
The US president's daughter, Ivanka Trump, sat one row in front of North Korean general Kim Yong-chol. Two seats down from him was Gen Vincent Brooks, commander of US forces in South Korea and in the middle of them all - Moon Jae-in, giving handshakes all round.The US president's daughter, Ivanka Trump, sat one row in front of North Korean general Kim Yong-chol. Two seats down from him was Gen Vincent Brooks, commander of US forces in South Korea and in the middle of them all - Moon Jae-in, giving handshakes all round.
South Korea's President Moon has tried to bring Washington and Pyongyang together at these Olympics. He's met two rounds of delegations from both countries and his message has been clear: You need to talk.South Korea's President Moon has tried to bring Washington and Pyongyang together at these Olympics. He's met two rounds of delegations from both countries and his message has been clear: You need to talk.
We could be some way off any major discussions between them - we have heard of the North's readiness to talk to the US before and it's led to nothing. But coming after a period of such high tension on the Korean peninsula, this does seem to show a shift in mood all round.We could be some way off any major discussions between them - we have heard of the North's readiness to talk to the US before and it's led to nothing. But coming after a period of such high tension on the Korean peninsula, this does seem to show a shift in mood all round.
And, if there is a breakthrough of sorts, many will remember President Moon's Winter Olympic strategy as the time it all began.And, if there is a breakthrough of sorts, many will remember President Moon's Winter Olympic strategy as the time it all began.
General 'willing' to talk
While South Korea's president held out a hand to Gen Kim, not everyone in his country was as accepting.While South Korea's president held out a hand to Gen Kim, not everyone in his country was as accepting.
Gen Kim has been accused of orchestrating attacks on the Cheonan warship and Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, leading to the death of 46 South Korean sailors.Gen Kim has been accused of orchestrating attacks on the Cheonan warship and Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, leading to the death of 46 South Korean sailors.
He arrived in the South with families of the victims and conservative MPs trying to block his entry.He arrived in the South with families of the victims and conservative MPs trying to block his entry.
According to Mr Moon's office, he said North Korea was "very willing" to hold talks with the US.According to Mr Moon's office, he said North Korea was "very willing" to hold talks with the US.
It added that the North had "agreed that inter-Korea talks and North-US relations should improve together".It added that the North had "agreed that inter-Korea talks and North-US relations should improve together".
Pyongyang has not yet commented. But it has often said it is willing to talk without any preconditions.
However, the US has insisted that concrete steps towards denuclearisation take place first.
The revelation from the South Korean presidency came hours after a furious statement from the North that described fresh sanctions announced by Washington as "an act of war".The revelation from the South Korean presidency came hours after a furious statement from the North that described fresh sanctions announced by Washington as "an act of war".
Pyongyang's foreign ministry praised the way the two Koreas had co-operated together during the Olympics, but said the US had "brought the threat of war to the Korean peninsula with large-scale new sanctions" just as the Games were coming to a close.Pyongyang's foreign ministry praised the way the two Koreas had co-operated together during the Olympics, but said the US had "brought the threat of war to the Korean peninsula with large-scale new sanctions" just as the Games were coming to a close.
Could there be a breakthrough this time?Could there be a breakthrough this time?
South Korean media is abuzz with suggestions that North-US talks could still take place while the respective delegations are in town.South Korean media is abuzz with suggestions that North-US talks could still take place while the respective delegations are in town.
The BBC's Laura Bicker, in Pyeongchang, asked an official from South's government if the meeting could take place in the next two days, and the answer was: "We will see."The BBC's Laura Bicker, in Pyeongchang, asked an official from South's government if the meeting could take place in the next two days, and the answer was: "We will see."
North Korea has sent an eight-person team across the border, including officials responsible for its nuclear programme and diplomats in charge of US issues. North Korea has sent an eight-person team across the border, including Gen Kim Choe Kang-il, a senior diplomat handling North American affairs.
Meanwhile, Allison Hooker - a Koreas specialist from the US National Security Council - is part of the US delegation. She met Gen Kim in 2014 in North Korea, as the US tried to free two American detainees.Meanwhile, Allison Hooker - a Koreas specialist from the US National Security Council - is part of the US delegation. She met Gen Kim in 2014 in North Korea, as the US tried to free two American detainees.
The scene could be set for a more low-key meeting than the failed attempt with Mr Pence.The scene could be set for a more low-key meeting than the failed attempt with Mr Pence.
He was set to meet Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean President Kim Jong-un, at the start of the Games, but it was cancelled inexplicably by the North Koreans, according to the US officials. North Korea made no comment.He was set to meet Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean President Kim Jong-un, at the start of the Games, but it was cancelled inexplicably by the North Koreans, according to the US officials. North Korea made no comment.
N Korea leader's sister takes 'real power' southN Korea leader's sister takes 'real power' south
There has been no official interaction between North Korea and the Trump administration.There has been no official interaction between North Korea and the Trump administration.