S.Korean President s special envoys leave for Pyongyang

Seoul March 5 (IANS) South Korean President Moon Jae-in s special envoys left for Pyongyang on Monday a trip aimed at persuading North Korea to resume the denuclearisation dialogue with the US and the international community.

The special delegation comprising five emissaries and five working-level officials is being led by Chung Eui-yong Moon s top national security adviser Moon and head of the National Security Office of the Blue House.

"Most of all I will deliver President Moon s sincere and firm resolve to maintain the dialogue and improvement in relations between the South and the North which were fostered on the occasion of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics to denuclearise the Korean Peninsula " Yonhap news agency quoted Chung as saying ahead of his departure from the Seoul Air Base in Seongnam.

"In addition I plan to hold in-depth discussions on various ways to continue talks between not only the South and the North but also the North and the United States and the international community " Chung said.

The scheduled trip marks the first of its kind since Moon took office in May 2017.

The two Koreas resumed dialogue in January after a two-year hiatus to discuss the North s participation in the PyeongChang Games held from February 9 to 25 in South Korea.

Chung will visit Washington shortly after the North Korea trip to directly explain the outcometo US policymakers.

The special delegation is set to return on Tuesday.

--IANS
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