North Korea agrees to participate in Pyeongchang Games

North Korea agreed to send athletes and other delegates to next month’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County, South Korea, during the first official talks between the two countries since 2015. North Korean delegates met Tuesday with their South Korean counterparts at the Peace House in the border town of Panmunjom after accepting the South’s invitation last week. South Korean Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung said the North’s Olympic delegation will include officials, cheerleaders, and journalists. Chun said the South proposed the two countries allow athletes to march together during the games’ opening and closing ceremonies. South Korea also proposed inter-Korean military discussions to ease tensions and a reunion of families in time for the Lunar New Year holiday next month, Chun said. North Korea restored a military hotline with the South and normal communications are expected to begin Wednesday. Last week, the North restored a cross-border hotline. “We came to this meeting today with the thought of giving our brethren, who have high hopes for this dialogue, invaluable results as the first present of the year,” said Ri Son Gwon, head of the North Korean delegation.