Kang Kyung-wha: we will continue to dialogue with North Korea with "clear eyes"

Seoul knows Pyongyang "better than anyone" and wants to get "the best" from the meetings in progress. The two Koreas will march under a single flag and will have a joint female hockey team.


Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - South Korea will continue dialogue with its neighbour the North with "clear eyes". This is what Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told the BBC, reiterating Seoul's need to "get the most out of the opportunity for dialogue, despite the skepticism expressed by the United States and its allies. " we understand North Korea better than anybody," says Kang, claiming to be aware of the "obvious" calculations behind the opening of the Pyongyang authorities, "but this is an opportunity". She also reiterated South Korea's intention to increase humanitarian aid in the North, where sanctions imposed in response to nuclear tests weigh on the very poor population.

Yesterday, the two Koreas decided that they will march under the one banner (see photo) of "Unified Korea" at the opening ceremony of the next Winter Olympics scheduled for Pyeongchang on February 9-25.

In addition, the two countries will present a joint team at women's ice hockey competitions. The North Korean delegation will be made up of hundreds of people, including 230 cheerleaders and 140 orchestra musicians. The North also agreed to send 150 people to the March Paralympics.

The agreement must be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which will meet in two days.