South Korean president offers Pyongyang talks
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (photo: Getty images)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has proposed the creation of a consultative working group with North Korea to discuss ways to ease tensions and restore economic cooperation, outlining his vision for the reunification of the two neighbors, according to Reuters.
In his address marking National Liberation Day, which commemorates the 79th anniversary of independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule after World War Two, Yoon stated that he is ready to initiate political and economic cooperation if North Korea takes just one step towards denuclearization.
Yoon suggested that launching the inter-Korean working group could help reduce tensions and address a range of issues, from economic cooperation to people-to-people exchanges and the reunification of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.
"We will begin political and economic cooperation the moment North Korea takes just one step toward denuclearisation. Dialogue and cooperation can bring about substantive progress in inter-Korean relations," Yoon said.
The South Korean Cabinet recently approved a presidential decree to establish a new military command, which will begin operations by the end of this year. The command will be responsible for strategic operations aimed at strengthening deterrence against North Korea's growing military threats.
