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North and South Korea hold talks | North and South Korea hold talks |
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The first meeting between North and South Korean officials in nearly two years has taken place unexpectedly in the South Korean capital Seoul. | The first meeting between North and South Korean officials in nearly two years has taken place unexpectedly in the South Korean capital Seoul. |
A spy chief said to be close to the North's leader Kim Jong-il met Seoul's Unification Minister Hyun In-taek. | A spy chief said to be close to the North's leader Kim Jong-il met Seoul's Unification Minister Hyun In-taek. |
Delegates from the North were attending the lying-in-state of the former South Korean President, Kim Dae-jung. | Delegates from the North were attending the lying-in-state of the former South Korean President, Kim Dae-jung. |
The North recently conducted nuclear tests, but analysts say it now wants better relations on the peninsula. | The North recently conducted nuclear tests, but analysts say it now wants better relations on the peninsula. |
"I am going to raise inter-Korean issues," Mr Hyun told reporters before starting discussions with his North Korean counterpart Kim Yang-gon, the official Yonhap news agency reported. | "I am going to raise inter-Korean issues," Mr Hyun told reporters before starting discussions with his North Korean counterpart Kim Yang-gon, the official Yonhap news agency reported. |
The meeting is the first since conservative President Lee Myung-bak came to power in Seoul in February last year. | The meeting is the first since conservative President Lee Myung-bak came to power in Seoul in February last year. |
Relations have soured since President Lee cut the flow of aid to the North, tying its resumption to nuclear disarmament. | Relations have soured since President Lee cut the flow of aid to the North, tying its resumption to nuclear disarmament. |
The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says Saturday's talks may be a signal that North Korea is keen to mend relations with the South after months of rising tension. | |
In the past few months it has fired a long range rocket over Japanese territory and conducted an underground nuclear test. | |
Some observers believe that, with UN sanctions beginning to bite, the North is keen to boost cross-border tourism and trade that bring in badly needed foreign currency, our correspondent adds. | |
On Friday, the six officials from North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, wearing black suits and ties, placed a wreath of flowers on the steps of South Korea's National Assembly, where Kim Dae-jung is lying in state. | On Friday, the six officials from North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, wearing black suits and ties, placed a wreath of flowers on the steps of South Korea's National Assembly, where Kim Dae-jung is lying in state. |
Mr Kim - who died on Tuesday at the age of 85 - devoted his presidency to improving relations between the two Koreas, still technically at war. | Mr Kim - who died on Tuesday at the age of 85 - devoted his presidency to improving relations between the two Koreas, still technically at war. |
He reached out to the North with aid - the main thrust of his "Sunshine Policy" that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000, and held a historic summit with Kim Jong-Il in that year. | He reached out to the North with aid - the main thrust of his "Sunshine Policy" that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000, and held a historic summit with Kim Jong-Il in that year. |