S. Korea waiting for North's response to hold military talks

Seoul [South Korea], Feb 13 (ANI): South Korea's Ministry of Defence on Tuesday said that they are waiting for North's response to its offer of military talks.

Yonhap news agency quoted the ministry spokesperson Choi Hyun-soo at a press briefing, as saying, "We are making preparations for the talks, although no specific schedule has been set yet."

The inter-Korean military hotline is in normal operation, but there's no communication on the agreed-upon military dialogue, she added.

On Sunday, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon hosted a lunch session for a high-level North Korean delegation at the Walker Hill Hotel.

The delegation, led by the North Korean ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam, includes Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of Kim Jong-un.

The 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang kicked off on Friday with the two Koreas marching under a unified flag in an opening ceremony themed around peace and future.

A joint ice hockey team, comprising of both North and South Korean players will take part in the Winter Games.

North Korea has sent a delegation of 22 athletes to compete in five disciplines, with their women's ice hockey players to compete in a unified Korean team.

Though South Korea is hosting the Winter Olympic Games for the first time, the nation has some experience in the world of international athletics, having hosted the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul.

The two sides had met at the border village of Panmunjom, located along the heavily guarded Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) for high-level, working-level and military talks respectively.

Also, North Korea sent its own cheerleader squad and an art troupe who are scheduled to perform in the Pyeongchang Winter Games. (ANI)