The United Nations said in a statement Thursday that Ban Ki-moon "appreciated President Park's commitment to building peace and prosperity in the Korean Peninsula through inter-Korean dialogue" and "reaffirmed his readiness to provide any support, as appropriate, in facilitating peace and stability in the region in close coordination with the concerned countries".
On Friday, the Yonhap news agency reported quoting a South Korean unification ministry spokesman that Seoul is urging North Korea to refrain from attaching preconditions to the talks between the two countries. The spokesperson added that South Korea was not restricting the format of talks with Pyongyang.
On Thursday, Yonhap reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in his New Year's Eve address that he was willing to hold summit talks with South Korean president Park Geun-hye this year.
The statement came after South Korea's presidential committee on reunification offered to hold ministerial talks with Pyongyang in January, 2015. The talks are meant to address all pending issues including the reunion of families separated by the Korean War, according to Yonhap.
Kim Jong-un reveals North Korea WILL talk to South Korea and may hold ‘high level summit’ after mass #MailOnline http://t.co/WJlga1X0cF
— Bibek Debroy (@bibekdebroy) 2 января 2015
North Korea and South Korea have not signed a peace treaty after the 1950-1953 war.
