
The four-hour dinner between South Korean officials and Kim Jong-un held positive results.
On March 5, South Korea’s special delegation to the North dined with North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un and his wife, Ri Sol-Ju, for over four hours. According to a Blue House spokesman, the results of the dinner talks were “not disappointing”.
Led by Blue House National Security Advisor, Chung Eui-yong, the five members of the special delegation had a meeting with North Korea State Affairs Commission Chairman, Kim Jong-Un, which was then followed by a dinner. The dinner reportedly lasted from 6 pm until 10:12 pm totaling to four hours and 12 minutes.
“The meeting and dinner took place in the Azalea Hall, the headquarters of the Korean Workers’ Party (KWP),” said Blue House spokesperson Kim Eui-gyum during the press briefing on March 6.
This was said to be the first time for South Korean officials to visit the party headquarters. The special delegation briefed South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, of the meeting and dinner right after the event, Eui-gyum added.
Kim Jong-un was accompanied by vice chairman of the KWP Central Committee, and Kim Yo-jong, first vice director of the KWP Central Committee. While at the dinner, they were joined by the North Korean leader’s wife, Ri Sol-ju, Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, Maeng Kyong-il, vice director of the KWP United Front Department, and Kim Jong-un’s chief of staff, Kim Chang-son.
The March 5 dinner was the first time that Kim Jong-un’s wife had met with South Korean officials.
A Blue House official said that the results of the dinner were “not disappointing”, which could possibly mean that North Korea has at least offered to stop nuclear weapon and missile testing.
North Korea’s state-run news agency, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) echoed the official’s remarks by saying that Kim Jong-un had similar opinions on an undisclosed matter with President Moon Jae-in. As a result, the North Korean leader reportedly “gave forceful instructions” for dealing with the as-of-yet unknown matter.
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