ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has welcomed the recent talks held between the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea (DPRK).
“Pakistan hopes that this new phase of talks between the two sides would help to ease tensions in the Korean Peninsula and the goodwill generated by the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics would lead to lasting peace, prosperity, stability, reconciliation and cooperation in the region,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The statement said that Pakistan has always encouraged the DPRK and RoK to resume meaningful negotiations and supported all efforts for smooth reunification of the Korean Peninsula including the two Summits between North and South Korea in June 2000 and 2007.
“It has been Pakistan’s consistent position that all relevant parties should comply with their international obligations, pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy to reduce tensions and work towards achieving a comprehensive solution,” the statement further said.
The bilateral talks between the two estranged countries were held on Monday at the Thongil House in Panmunjom, North Korea. “At the talks both sides had a sincere discussion on the practical matters related to the performances by the north side’s art troupe to be dispatched to the south side’s area with the 23rd Winter Olympics as an occasion and adopted a joint press release,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said after the talks.
Meanwhile, North Korea said it would send a 140-member orchestra to South Korea as part of its delegation to the Winter Olympics next month (From February 9-25).
