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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 6 January 2018
Koreas will meet for talks next week in small breakthrough

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — of peaceful settlement
The rival Koreas will sit down through dialogue and con-
for their first formal talks in sultation.”
more than two years next The Trump government on
week to find ways to coop- Thursday said its springtime
erate on the Winter Olym- military drills with South Ko-
pics in the South and to rea will be held from March
improve their abysmal ties, 8-18 following the Feb. 9-25
Seoul officials said Friday. Olympic Games. Defense
While a positive sign after Secretary Jim Mattis insist-
last year’s threats of nucle- ed the delay was a practi-
ar war, the Koreas have cal necessity to accommo-
a long history of failing to date the Olympics, not a
move past their deep ani- political gesture.
mosity. The White House said Trump
The announcement came approved the postpone-
hours after the United States ment in consultation with
said it will delay annual mili- South Korean President
tary exercises with South Moon Jae-in, who said he
Korea until after the Winter suggested the drills’ delay
Olympics in Pyeongchang, In this Aug. 22, 2015 photo, South Korean National Security Director, Kim Kwan-jin, right, and to the United States.
South Korea, next month. Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, second from right, shake hands with Hwang Pyong So, left, Moon, a liberal, has been
The exercises infuriate North North Korea’ top political officer for the Korean People’s Army, and Kim Yang Gon, a senior North pushing to improve strained
Korea, which claims they Korean official responsible for South Korean affairs, during their meeting at the border village of ties and restore stalled co-
are an invasion rehearsal, Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea. A Seoul official says both Koreas have agreed to hold their first operation projects with
although South Korea and talks in more than two years next Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. North Korea since his inau-
the United States have re- (South Korean Unification Ministry via AP) guration in May, though he
peatedly said they are de- Unification Ministry spokes- leader Kim Jong Un said he because the North has no joined U.S.-led international
fensive in nature. man Baik Tae-hyun said was willing to send a dele- intention of abandoning efforts to apply more pres-
On Friday morning, North he expects the two Koreas gation to the Winter Olym- its weapons programs and sure and sanctions on the
Korea sent a message say- will use a recently restored pics but he also said he has the United States will not North.
ing it would accept South cross-border communica- a “nuclear button” on his ease its pressure on the Moon’s government wants
Korea’s offer to meet at the tion channel to try to deter- desk to fire atomic weap- country, analysts say. North Korea to take part
border village of Panmun- mine who will head their re- ons at the United States. China’s foreign ministry ap- in the Winter Olympics. But
jom next Tuesday to discuss spective delegations next President Donald Trump plauded news of possible North Korea is not strong
Olympic cooperation and week. quickly responded that he talks between the rival Ko- in winter sports and none
how to improve overall ties, Any dialogue between had a bigger and more reas. of its athletes have been
according to South Korea’s the Koreas is seen as a powerful “nuclear button” “We welcome the recent qualified to compete in the
Unification Ministry, which positive step. But critics say of his own. positive turn of events in Games.
handles North Korean mat- the North’s abrupt push Past breakthroughs to ease the peninsular situation,” It needs to acquire addi-
ters. Panmunjom is where to improve ties may be a Korean tensions have often spokesman Geng Shuang tional quotas by the Inter-
a North Korean soldier tactic to divide Seoul and ended with renewed ani- said at a regular briefing. national Olympic Commit-
dashed across the border Washington and weaken mosities. Geng expressed hope “all tee to come to South Ko-
into the South in Novem- international pressure and It’s likely the North will re- relevant parties” would rea.
ber. He is recovering after sanctions on Pyongyang. frain from provocations take advantage of the Baik said North Korea is ex-
being shot five times by his In his New Year’s address during the Games. But ten- Games to “bring the issue pected to hold talks with
former comrades. Monday, North Korean sions could return afterward back to the correct track IOC officials next week. q

US ambassador: Iran, ‘world will be watching what you do’

By JENNIFER PELTZ mestic affairs. At least 21 on notice: The world will be
Associated Press people have been killed watching what you do,”
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A amid the anti-government she said.
U.N. Security Council emer- protests and unrest over Ahead of the meeting, a
gency meeting on the pro- the country’s economic Russian deputy foreign min-
tests roiling Iran is putting woes — demonstrations ister said it was an Ameri-
Tehran on notice that “the Iran has accused the U.S. can attempt to violate
world will be watching” of stirring up. Iran’s sovereignty. “The
what it does, the U.S. am- U.S. President Donald Trump United States continues to
bassador said Friday. and members of his admin- pursue a policy of open
U.S. Ambassador Nikki istration have praised the and implicit interference in
Haley also said the inter- anti-government protesters the internal affairs of other
national community can’t as people standing up to a states — doing it unabash-
let Iran silence protesters’ repressive and corrupt re- edly, openly, under the slo-
messages, particularly by Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, left, gime. Haley said Friday that gan of caring for democ-
blocking some social me- speaks to American Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki “the world should applaud racy and human rights, di-
dia platforms. Haley before a Security Council meeting on Iran, Friday, Jan. 5, their courage,” and the U.S. rectly infringing on the sov-
The U.S. called Friday’s 2018, at United Nations headquarters. “stands unapologetically ereignty of other states,”
meeting after giving moral (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) with those in Iran who seek Sergei Ryabkov said Friday
support to the anti-govern- of demonstrations and Russia said Washington was freedom for themselves.” in comments carried by the
ment protesters in a week counterdemonstrations. overstepping into Iran’s do- “The Iranian regime is finally Interfax news agency.q