Kim Jong-un met with South Korea to ‘vigorously advance’ ties

IT WAS a historic meeting between two rival nations, but the photos provide a revealing insight into what went on.

THESE historic photos released by South Korea provide a revealing insight into thawing relations with the North.

They also provide a fascinating glimpse into North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s inner circle and who he invites to high-level meetings.

Mr Kim has played host to a South Korean delegation in Pyongyang in their first visit to the secretive nation in a decade.

It is also the first time the leader has spoken face-to-face with officials from the South since taking power in 2011.

Accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-Ju and sister Kim Yo-jong, the North Korean leader met with the delegation in a four-hour meeting where he said he wanted to advance inter-Korean relations.

Chung Eui-Yong (left), head of the presidential National Security Office shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Picture: South Korean Presidential Blue House/Getty Images

The meeting, which featured wine and what appears to be cognac, comes amid a thawing in tensions between the rival nations.

According to Seoul’s Blue House it’s the first time South Koreans have visited the North’s ruling Workers Party headquarters in Pyongyang.

Leading writer, analyst, and researcher focusing on international security Ankit Panda called the photos remarkable.

The South and North Korean officials post for photographs in Pyongyang. Picture: South Korean Presidential Blue House/Getty Images

He said the released photographs showed North Korea was reciprocating South Korean President Moon Jai-in’s reception of Kim Yo-jong and Foreign Minister Kim Yong-nam.

“The inter-Korean bonhomie continues, without the US at the table. Or nukes on the table,” Mr Panda tweeted.

However, he also pointed out a few other interesting details including the strategic placement of alcohol and cameras.

Kim Jong-un hoarding all the good stuff on his end of the table. (I do see what appear to be veggies on his plate, at least.) pic.twitter.com/kaofvG0Zi4

— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) March 5, 2018

"Dear diary, today I sat next to Kim Yo-jong at dinner." pic.twitter.com/cjsOqw4F0U

— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) March 5, 2018

KCTV cameraman in the background. (Usually KCNA photographers are a little more careful with staging.) pic.twitter.com/pEH6eFUY4S

— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) March 5, 2018

And... looks like someone played a sick drum solo before dinner? pic.twitter.com/q3BJ1IAqR3

— Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) March 5, 2018

The delegation from Seoul is the most senior to travel North in years and comes as Mr Moon tries to broker talks between nuclear-armed Pyongyang and Washington after months of high tensions.

“Hearing the intention of President Moon Jae-in for a summit from the special envoy of the south side, he exchanged views and made a satisfactory agreement,” KCNA said of the North’s leader.

However, Seoul said no agreement had yet been reached on a meeting between the leaders, which would be the first such summit since 2007.

The two sides have “discussed” it and “somewhat shared the view” on other points, an official from the South’s presidential Blue House said.

KCNA said Mr Kim “warmly welcomed” the South Korean officials, who handed over a letter from Mr Moon.

“He also made an exchange of in-depth views on the issues for easing the acute military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and activating the versatile dialogue, contact, co-operation and exchange,” it reported.

The South Korean delegation talk with General Kim Yong-chol (second right), who is in charge of inter-Korean affairs for North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party. Picture: The Blue House/AFP

Mr Kim’s discussions with the South Koreans lasted more than four hours, and included dinner at the North’s ruling Workers Party headquarters in Pyongyang, according to the Blue House.

The delegation from Seoul is pushing for talks between the nuclear-armed regime and the United States, after the North Korean leader sent his sister Kim Yo-jong to the Winter Games in the South and invited Mr Moon to a summit in Pyongyang.

Her trip was the first visit to the South by a member of the North’s ruling dynasty since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, and her appearance at the Games’ opening ceremony made global headlines.

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