Kim Jong-un offered to hold talks with South Korea – BBC Russian

• January 1, 2015

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In a televised address, Kim condemned the joint military exercises in South Korea and the United States

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is ready to hold summit talks with South Korea. He stated this in New Year address shown on state television.

He said that if the conditions are met in Pyongyang, he could even hold a summit with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

South Korea said that it was a significant step, negotiations should include a “practical and frank discussions on all issues of mutual interest”.

“Our government hopes for dialogue between the authorities of South and North Korea in the near future in any format, “- said Minister of the United Ryu Gil-jae, who was quoted by Yonhap News Agency.

On Monday, the minister called for a resumption of dialogue about the meetings of families separated by the Korean War, adding that he hoped for a positive response of North Korea .

He offered to meet in Seoul, Pyongyang, North Korea, or any other, or the South Korean city.

The tension on the peninsula

In the New Year’s address Kim said that the “tragic” division of Korea can no longer be considered acceptable.

“It all depends on the mood and circumstances, but there is no reason not to hold the summit at a high level,” – he said.

However, later in his speech condemned Kim joint military exercises in South Korea and the US for heightened tensions on the peninsula.

One of the main issues in the negotiations is to organize meetings of families separated by the Korean War

“In the context of tensions caused by military exercises based on trust dialogue is impossible, and the relations between the North and the South can not move forward,” – said the North Korean leader.

Correspondent BBC BBC Kevin Kim in Seoul reports that it is unclear how likely meeting between the two Korean presidents, given the tension.

The North has previously examined South Korea plans to unite as an attempt to seize power.

The latest official high-level talks held in February 2014 and led to the organization of several meetings for families separated for more than 60 years since the Korean War (1950-1953).

The following negotiations scheduled for October was canceled after North Korea accused the South Korean authorities that they did not try to prevent activists sending leaflets across the border against the regime of North Korea. Tens of thousands of people have been separated at the end of the war on the divided peninsula. Pyongyang and Seoul formally at war since the conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.