S. Korea president hopes North is sincere with offer to improve relations

SEOUL, South Korea- South Korean President Park Geun-hye urged North Korea on Tuesday to show its “sincerity and willingness” to develop relations between their two countries by holding talks.

At her first cabinet meeting of the year in Seoul, Park said she was glad to hear that Kim Jong Un expressed his commitment to improving ties with South Korea through dialogue and exchanges.

The remarks were made during the North Korean leader’s New Year’s speech on Thursday.

South Korea itself proposed in late December that the two rival Koreas hold ministerial talks this month to discuss various bilateral issues, including the reunion of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.

However, finding the right conditions for both countries to meet has proven to be virtually impossible in the past.

The two countries have not held a summit since 2007 and, despite Kim’s remarks, the likelihood of one happening again soon is very low given the deep distrust that remains between the two countries.