North Korea 'Open To Talks With United States'

Image: Uri Tours.

A North Korean envoy has said his country is willing to open talks with the United States.

Kim Yong Chol was in South Korea for the end of the Winter Olympics.

He said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wanted to improve ties with Washington and had "ample intentions of holding talks" with its rival, according to the South's presidential office.

He made the remarks during a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is eager to engage the North after one of the most hostile periods in recent years on the Korean Peninsula.

Mr Moon, who was invited a day after the opening ceremonies to Pyongyang for a summit with Kim Jong-un, also said that Washington and Pyongyang should quickly meet to "fundamentally solve" the stand-off.

Mr Kim later sat in the VIP box at Olympic Stadium in Pyeongchang for the Olympic closing ceremonies, just feet away from Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, and the top US military commander on the peninsula, General Vincent Brooks.

Mr Moon has yet to accept the North's invitation for a summit.