easing tension between north and south korea inter korean relationship resuming resumption of a. reunion of separated families etc so this and thirst there will be a south korea playing some kind of a role between north and united states a bilateral relationship and fourth eventually addressing the denuclearization of the entire korean peninsula if you followed these proposals this is indeed actual north korea just responding to president wins against a proposal that i think president trump the right thing to publicly come out and supporting the this this process and the second thing that is very important is that if you look at it yes there there will be a major breakthrough because north korea has achieved. a nuclear deterrent you know on its own record and as you can as we saw from new year's this. beach north korea field that you just very confident it has a new clear deterrent capability and as the new year's address pointed out the next step is to move forward to economic development so if you take the true and i'm sorry to jump you talk about this nuclear deterrent this nuc

to force the south korean government to limit its and gauge what north korea if north korea offers orfreeze but not a lemonade nuclear program for now this gap has not occurred for now the south korean government as even we solve a couple days ago in the vancouver for many. there's conferences and sustain on denuclearization and i think that the u.s. will try and work to keep that alignment we've seen president moon change his campaign rhetoric and to when after when he sued office to take a farmer stance on these issues and so we i think this will continue but there is the danger that it was mentioned about the north trying to you maneuver to split the allies in order to attain its long term objectives of weakening and undermining the u.s. korean alliance reunifying korea under its control and threatening other countries without retaliation and so on and the nuclear missile the nuclear weapons that south of north korea's pursuing is precisely part of that campaign. is there a feeling there in korea that the the u.s. could no longer be fully trusted trumps belligerents korea as well a

south korea, north korea into a korean relationship. i could insist on having communication. d trump has supported this move. he has also agreed in postponing joint south korean military exercises. this is the starting point. we have got to have a successful peaceful winter 0lympics. furthermore, the nuclear issue of north korea should be discussed. this should allow us to have a new chapter for the new peace of south and north korea. in doing so, america, china, japan and all oui’ so, america, china, japan and all our other alliances and i hope they do so. the north korean nuclear issue and establishing peace in north and south korea will be my aim. nuclearisation is the fundamental pathway we need to pass which is totally cannot be compromised. it should be the only way price to achieve full peace in the korean peninsula. i will make sure we get to that point. last week i met korean elderly ladies who are victimised during the japanese colonies. it reminded me of what a korean government can do. japan... the south korean president they're giving a live press conference. he h

now some 30,000 north korean defectives have come to south korea. in china, however, tens of thousands of north korean defectors are living without papers under the shadows and are being physically or sexually exploited. while the u.s. continues urging -- should continue urging china and russia to support more economic sanctions, it should also do more to stop beijing from repatriating defectors back to north korea. the world was united to abolish the south african apartheid, now it is time for the world to stop the widespread and systematic human rights violations in north korea, which are tantamount to the crimes committed by the nazis. mr. chairman, this concludes my opening statement. thank you again for this opportunity, and i look forward to your questions. rep. royce: thank you very much, mr. thae. you make clear in your remarks that as more and more people gradually become informed about the reality of their living conditions in what they are told is a paradise, but they find out how people are living in south korea or the rest of the world,

south koreans. when he refers to the sea between korea and japan as the sea of japan instead of the east boil.t makes korean blood there is a chance that a preemptive strike against north korea without firm south korean support could lead to a backlash against the american president that could have unforeseen there is a chance thatconsequenr position in east asia. host: this is the history and lesson for the age. we don't have a rockstar -- in southck solid ally korea. mr. fields: we do at the moment, but that could change drastically with a rash american decision. we could get away with it, but nobody knows. there is a wholesome scent of possibilities. we tend to think if we strike first, x number of koreans will die. it will make much more sense from the north korean perspective if we were to attack them not to level seoul, but to show that they had rolled the dice with tens of mainly -- the dice with tens of millions of south korean lives. they will say, do you really need the americans? they are the greatest threat. host: we have referenced china a few times. what is the influence china can exert on north korea? we see from our policymakers we are looking to them t

south koreans when he refers to the sea between korea and japan as the sea of japan instead of the east sea, it makes south korean blood boil. that as a possibility preemptive or preventative strike against north korea without firm south koreans support could lead to a backlash against the american president -- against the american presence in south korea that could have unforeseen consequences. this is the historians lesson for the age, to understand we do not have a rock solid ally in south korea >>. we do at the moment -- that do at the moment but could change drastically with a rash of american decision. it is possible we could do this and get away with it, but nobody knows. a subset of possibilities as to how this crisis could play out. we think if we strike the north first, x number of south koreans will die. i think it would make much more sense from the north korean perspective if we were to attack but toot to level soul, point out to south koreans that americans had just rolled the dice with tens of millions of korean lives hanging in the balance. and then to ask the south koreans, do you really think you still media americans -- you still need the americans, because they are the grea

separates north and south korea will be a hive of activity representatives from the two countries will hold high level talks here for the first time in more than two years earlier this week north koreanleader kim jong il dialogue and his new year's day address four days later his government agreed to hold talks the announcement came just hours after the u.s. and south korea agreed to postpone and your military drills for the end of february these have long been regarded as provocative by pyongyang. leaders agreed not to conduct south korea yes joint military drills. and to do their best to use sure the security of the olympics. next week's discussions will center on north korea's participation in the upcoming winter olympics as well as generally improving and to create relations but officials here in south korea are also hoping the negotiations will eventually lead to north korea returning to international talks on its nuclear program even so president cautiously optimistic saying we should refrain from making premature judgement or expectation. the japanese defense minister also sounded a lot of caution when. north korea goes through phases of apparent dialogue and provocations but

the head of the south korean delegation has said they will be sending athletes to the winter olympics in south korea that northth the north, no response from the north at the moment. the south is also proposing that there are more talks about reuniting families divided by the border. again, as far as we know at the moment, no response from the north on that. more as soon as we have it. stockton, california, once named the most miserable city in the us, is making a comeback. that's thanks in no small part to its young mayor, michael tubbs. he was born and raised in stockton and is now working to turn things around in his hometown. the bbc went to meet him. a very violent day in stockton, five people are dead. ..in one of stockton's deadliest days on record. there's a lot of love, there's also a lot of pain. sometimes i pinch myself. like, yo, you're the mayor! especially when it comes to things like problem—solving, why don't they do it like that? why aren't you doing it? you're the mayor! or you can at least call the people that can do it. growing up in stockton, i lived in four out of five hot zone areas, whi

and a sign of thawing tensions north korea has reopened a suspended hot line just south korea north korean leader kim jong un ordered the reconnection of the phone line of the country's border north and south of been making overtures about improving ties since new year's eve and kim jong un said he wanted to see north korean athletes at next month's winter olympics in the south. one of the more contentious issues in coalition talks between germany's hopeful ruling party is likely to be reuniting refugees with their families the process is politically charged complicated and expensive and even if german or thought is approved family reunions red tape in other countries where refugees first arrive in europe can prolong the white so what does it mean for people quarter in the middle who often see themselves as victims of broken promises. moore yod and his younger brother abdul rahman like living in cologne their new home but they say they can only be truly content when the rest of their family joins them the two brothers traveled along the balkan route from syria and arrived in germany two su

in a sign of thawing tensions, north korea has reopened a suspended hotline to south korea. north koreanr kim jong-un ordered a reconnection of the phone line with the country's border. north and south have been making over chores about -- making overtures about improving ties since new year's eve since kim jong-un said he wanted to see north korean athletes at next month's winter olympics in the south. one of the more contentious issues in coalition talks between germany's hopeful ruling parties is likely to be reuniting refugees with their families. the process is politically charged, complicated, and expensive. and even if german authorities approve family reunions, other -- red tape in other countries can prolong the wait. so what does it mean for people caught up in the middle who often see themselves as victims of broken promises? reporter: this man and his younger brother like living in cologne, their new home, but they say they can only be truly content when the rest of their family joins them. the two brothers traveled along the balkan route from syria and arrived in germany two

top of the agenda, north korea's participation at the winter olympics being hosted by south korea next month. confidence north koreander of north korea says he will send a delegation. the south korean president says it could provide an opportunity to de—escalate tension is on the peninsula. months of tension because of the nuclear tests and the trading of insults between washington and north korea. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news: american media are reporting that special counsel robert mueller, investigating russian attempts to interfere in the us elections, has raised the likelihood that he will seek an interview with president trump. it is reported the president's lawyers are discussing what format any interview will take, and how to avoid the president meeting face—to—face with mr mueller. two people have been injured in a small fire on the roof of trump tower, in midtown manhattan. eric trump, one of the president's sons, has tweeted that it was an electrical fire in a cooling tower at the top of the building. fire engines were called to the blaze. president trump was in washingto

deja vu news live from berlin can diplomacy relieve tensions on the korean peninsula south korea poses high level talks with the north and this is just in coming just a day after north korean leader kim jong un offered a rare all of branch to the south and new threats to the u.s. we'll go live to seoul also coming up. renewed protests in iran is that country sees its most violent of rust in the years more than twenty people have been killed in the demonstrations as the government threatens a further crackdown. and it could be a make or break year for german chancellor machall look at what's in store for her in twenty eighteen as she tries to form a new coalition government. i'm brian thomas great to have you with us south korea's a government has offered to hold high level talks with north korea beginning next week the talks would focus on the participation of a north korean team in this year's winter olympics to be held in the south now the offer comes a day after north korean leader kim jong un struck a more conciliatory tone towards the south in his new year's address saying he was quote open to dialogue but kim d

sea between korea and japan as the sea of japan instead of the east sea, it makes south korean blood boil. i think there is a possibility that a preemptive or preventative strike against north korea without firm south korean support could lead to a backlash against the american presence in south korea that could have unforeseen consequences as far as our position in east asia. >> this is the historians lesson for the age, to understand we do not have a rock solid ally in south korea. >> we do at the moment but that could change drastically with a rash american decision. it is possible we could do this and get away with it, but nobody >> we do at the moment but that knows. i feel like there is a subset of possibilities as to how this crisis could play out. we think if we strike the north first, x number of south koreans will die. i think it would make much more sense from the north korean perspective if we were to attack them, not to level seoul, but to point out to south koreans that americans had just rolled the dice with tens of millions of korean lives hanging in the balance. which is what we would be doing. and then to ask the south koreans, do you really think you stil

suggesting that north korea might be trying to drive a wedge between president moon in south korea and president trump with this different rhetoric on the two sides. other analysts are saying, south korean president moon and trump are playing a good cop-bad cop approach to north korea. regardless of the niceness between north and south korea, that talk between north korea and u.s. is tough not just the president trump between but also coming from kim jong-un. kim jong-un remember in his new year's address said he would spend 2018 building up a nuclear arsenal that could hit the united states. good news and bad news. in london, greg palkot, fox news. >>> a welcome sight in the bay area, rain ending a two-week dry spell coming on the first snow survey of the year where there seemed to be as much grass showing as snow. good evening, i'm julie haener. >> and i'm ken wayne. frank is off tonight. light rain this afternoon in alameda. this is where windshield wipers and headlights were both turned on and most people we saw walking outside finally had to dig out those umbrellas. in fremont, a similar scene this afternoon, although when our cameras were there it appeared the rain was coming down

south korean counterparts. in a further step to improve relations on the divided peninsula, the south korean foreign ministry has said sanctions on north korea to ensure the north korean team can come to the winter olympics. until now, south korea and the us have been piling the pressure on pyongyang with intense joint military exercises like this, a clear threat to the north korean regime. and that may be why now the north is keen to talk. although these meetings could easily go wrong, so these meetings could easily go wrong, so far, that atmosphere seems quite positive, with some believing they could ultimately lead to negotiations between north korea and the us. richard galpin, bbc news. rupert wingfield—hayes is in the south korean capital, seoul. could it really lead to talks about north korea's nuclear programme? it is possible. that has happened in the past. there have been on numerous occasions over the last 20 yea rs numerous occasions over the last 20 years when those sorts of talks have begun and it has fallen apart. there is optimism and hope here today in large part because it has been such a frightening previous year here where

south korea in a little over a month. the us state department accused north korea of attempting to drive a wedge between the us and its south koreant for the 20 million people of seoul who live within firing range of north korea's artillery, any sign that pyongyang is willing to talk is a new year gift they will welcome. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in seoul. the health secretaryjeremy hunt has apologised to patients, after hospitals in england were told to delay tens of thousands of non—urgent operations and appointments. the health service is struggling to cope with mounting winter pressures. the bbc understands at least one in ten hospital trusts have been put on the highest level of alert in the last 2a hours, meaning they are unable to deliver comprehensive care. the royal college of emergency medicine says patient safety is undoubtedly being compromised. labour claims the nhs is in crisis. 0ur health editor hugh pym has the latest. there's been extreme stress at some hospitals. around 20 in england have been on the highest alert level. that means no available beds and severe delays for ambulances handing over patients.

north korea's leader kim jong un. i keep myself open to any meeting including a summit if it's helpful for an improvement of south and north korean relations or a settlement of the north korean nuclear issue president says even though south korea prefers a policy of engagement it also supports the u.s. approach of maximum pressure but he acknowledges that with more sanctions come more risks of escalating tensions that could lead to a possible armed conflict ultimately south korea wants to find a diplomatic solution to the problem of north korea's nuclear weapons but north korea has continued to indicate they are not up for negotiation. regarding the nuclear issues our strategic weapons including atomic bomb hydrogen bomb and intercontinental ballistic missiles only aimed at the united states not our fellow koreans but moon says both south korea and the u.s. are threatened by the north's nuclear weapons and will continue to work together to address that threat kathy novak al jazeera seoul. beijing's ordered the closure of north korean businesses in china to comply with u.n. sanctions the deadline for the closure passed on tuesday

and everyone thought oh this is a big opening but just a few weeks after that the north koreans actually shelved south korea so you know we've seen this pattern in the past larry going back to the beginning of the korean war where the north korean regime will have an overture and then within days or a few weeks after that they'll be some military provocation in one nine hundred fifty it was actually the start of a large scale invasion of the south what we call the korean war in two thousand and ten they killed fifty south koreans just after two such overtures so we've got to be really careful about how this is because we're entering a crucial period here with the fact that north and south korea had some talks today out of the united states religion ship was korea oh absolutely because kim jong un wants to use these talks to drive a wedge between seoul and the united states and this is traditional kim family policy going back seven decades the reason is that kim jong il and the kim family want to take over south korea they can only do that of course if they break the mutual defense treaty between south korea

south korean governments has now been re—established. a north korean delegation will be present at the winter olympics being hosted by the south. and a direct military hotline connecting to the two koreasactivated. but there was barely a mention, and certainly no movement on the fundamental issue of north korea's nuclear and missile programme. today, the south korean president said resolving that was the only pathway to peace. translation: the de-nuclearisation of the korean peninsula is the fundamental pathway we need to follow. this cannot be compromised. this is the only way for us to achieve full peace in the korean peninsula. not everyone was in favour of the talks. some believe that the north korean leader's sudden willingness to engage with its neighbour is motivated by the desire to drive a wedge between those allied against him, as the latest round of un sanctions imposed on his regime really start to bite. but moonjae—in was adamant today that he would not allow that to happen. translation: in terms of security and defence, south korea and the united states are the closest of allies. we also share the same view of the significance of the threat from north korea. so south kore

and the special threat to the south, thousands of north korean artillery tubes pointed directly at south koreaif the u.s. was to strike, all indications are the north koreans would move very quickly against south korea in retaliation. so as will has just said so ably, a lot of nice talk and now a very heavy dose of reality. >> will, the north koreans agreed to send a delegation of athletes to next month's olympic games in south korea. also agreed to hold military talks with south korea to ease military tensions. how significant are these developments? >> in the short term, it's a win for both north and south korea. kim jong-un gets an all expense paid trip for his delegation to the olympics. he gets to point to the fact that the u.s. and south korea delay joint military drills and south korea is talking about easing some sanctions to let this happen. and moon jae-in gets what he wants, a peaceful olympics without a north korean missile launch or nuclear test to spook spectators since the seoul summer games in 1988. when you have the north korean chief negotiator talking about the oimpices and

the olympics and generally reducing tensions on the korean peninsula but he also asked that the world except north korea has nuclear state now south korean officials along with the united states have said those issues cannot be disconnected from each other and that any talks that don't address the broader issue of north korea's nuclear program are not useful ok now we should to south to join the north north in talks would america be at the table as a kind of silent partner. that also remains unclear there's been some mixed messages out of washington about their attitudes towards talking to north korea as some officials in the state department have signaled out willingness and there have been some reports of back channel overtures in past months however president donald trump has remained rather publicly skeptical of the usefulness of talking to north korea so that obviously remains a huge issue for the effectiveness of any kind of talks ok briefly if you could josh are we looking at the escalation. again it's not clear you know whether this will hit some of those more substantive issues but i think even many of the most skeptical

south koreans. one way i think of viewing what the north koreans are doing is forcing all of the nations involved -- south korea, the united states, and japan to ask fundamental questions about the relationship with each other and about the security of northeast asia. this is at a time when the answer to those questions will not be agreeable to all parties. >> in closing, as a historian, is there a metaphor you can use to describe the current situation as you're looking at it? i am thinking -- is it a tinderbox waiting for a spark or something other than that? >> i think a better metaphor might be some sort of precarious tower that is fairly strong but brittle, something made of iron. it is strong, but it cannot stand a lot of shocks. it can look strong and collapse suddenly. i think our alliances with south korea, with japan are fairly strong and very robust, but that does not mean that certain actions, particularly about preventative strikes against north korea, could cause this edifice to come down with shocking speed. >> dr. fields, a very timely subject for historians. thank you so much for your time. >> t

i think it's a good chance that north korean people, north korean teens, coming to south korea becausee one of the country and our south korean citizens can see how an north korean to and think that they are not as bad. there is an opportunity for the south koreans to see how north koreans are trying to unify as one country and it's a good chance and opportunity for both sides to have a better relationship that before. state prosecutors in myanmar have charged two journalists from the reuters news agency under the country's official secrets act, a charge which carries a maximum 1a—year prison sentence. wa lone and kyaw soe oo were detained last month while they were investigating reports of mass killings in rakhine state. soe win than reports. security is tight at the court where the two journalists are to appear. wa lone and kyaw soe oo smile when they are greeted, by eagerly awaiting family members and fellow journalists. the two journalists were detained on december 12 in yangon, at a restaurant, after meeting with two policemen who reportedly gave them documents in relation to the

conciliatory overture from kim jong un to south korea he's even suggested dialogue between the two sides something south korean president proposed several months ago and which north korea ignored. we should actively create an atmosphere to move forward with the national reconciliation and reunification improving ties between the north and the south is an urgent issue that not only the north and south want to see what everyone else wants he suggested north korea is prepared to send its athletes to participate in the upcoming winter olympics and paralympics in next month. south korea has responded to these proposals positively saying it hopes communication which has been severed between the two sides for nearly two years can be restored so whether in south korea's presidential office wall comes north korean leader kim jong il's new year's peace today which expressed willingness to send a delegation to the counter olympics and proposed talks as the egg knowledges don't need for improvement into korean pies but analysts say the olive branch may be a ploy to gain some political ground north korea wants to drive a wedge between seoul in washington at the same time trie

north korea's leader kim jong un. i keep myself open to any meeting including a summit if it's helpful for an improvement of south and north korean relations or a settlement of the north korean nuclear issue president says even though south korea prefers a policy of engagement it also supports the u.s. approach of maximum pressure but he acknowledges that with more sanctions come more risks of escalating tensions that could lead to a possible armed conflict ultimately south korea wants to find a diplomatic solution to the problem of north korea's nuclear weapons but north korea has continued to indicate they are not up for negotiation. regarding the nuclear issues strategic weapons including atomic bomb hydrogen bomb and intercontinental ballistic missiles only i aimed at the united states not our fellow koreans but moon says both south korea and the u.s. are threatened by the north's nuclear weapons and will continue to work together to address that threat kathy novak al jazeera seoul. well beijing sauder the closure of north korean businesses in china to comply with u.n. sanctions the deadline for the closure passed on tuesday

translation: is a neighbour of the korean palencia we welcome all positive steps that will allow an easing of tensions between south and north koreaninsula. tensions between south and north korea. -- korean peninsula. here is robert wingfield hayes. well i think there is a huge amount of relief because it has been a pretty scary year at least here in this region. it is felt very much like a times we have been teetering on the edge of war. we've seen missiles flying, nuclear tests, america sending aircraft carrier battle groups to the coast of korea. making very bloodcurdling threats towards each other, north korea and the united states. so in many ways this, there is relief that these talks are taking place, just because talks are now happening and also because it appears that the north korean side is now very keen to de—escalate the tensions. the bigger question is is this an opening to really deeper dialogue between north and the south and will the denuclearisation of the korean peninsula be on the table. and there is no sign of that at the moment. i think what has happened is the north korean leadership has looked into the abys

south koreans and the japanese are not good. japanese militarism causes further mistrust among the south koreans. one way of viewing what the north koreans are doing is forcing all of the nations involved -- south korea, the united states, and japan, to ask fundamental questions about the relationship with each other and the security of northeast asia. the answer to those questions will not be agreeable to all parties. >> in closing, as a historian, is there a metaphor you can use to describe the current situation as you're looking at it? i am thinking -- is it a tinderbox waiting for a spark or something other than that? >> a better metaphor might be some sort of precarious tower that is fairly strong but brittle, something made of iron. it is strong, but it cannot stand a lot of shocks. it can look strong and collapse suddenly. our alliances with south korea, with japan are fairly strong and robust, but that does not mean that certain actions, particularly preventative strikes against north korea, could cause this edifice to come down with shocking speed. >> a very timely subject for historians. thank you so much for your time. >> thank you very much. >> tomorrow, we look at the results of a public

also coming up south korea proposes high level talks with the north this comes a day after north korean leader kim jong un extended a rare all of branch of the south and new threats to the united states. and legal marijuana hits the shelves in california recreational users can now buy the drug without any fear of arrest in america's too close to populous state. i'm sorry kelly welcome to the program great to have you with us clashes overnight in iran have left at least nine people dead the anti-government protests have been raging for nearly a week in tehran and around the country in total several hundred people have been arrested and at least twenty have been killed according to state media. now the demonstrations initially broke out against the weak economy and a rise in food prices but they have also been drawing opponents of the country's religious establishment. and let's talk a bit more about that crackdown we are joined by a.f.p. correspondent eric randolph who is joining us with the latest from tehran and eric as we've heard iranian state television reporting nine more people ki

south korea's president moon j.n. said he's ready to negotiate on letting north korea join next month's olympics hosted by the south but he stressed north korea's nuclear and missile programs would be major topics north korean leader kim jong un had raised the idea of joining the olympics in his new year's speech in that same speech he also issued new threats against the united states voters. ok let's get a line up now if we could to a soul and go to correspondent josh smith who's in the south korean japanese right now john what are we to make of this a limp dick overtures the olympic diplomacy we're seeing could it signal a breakthrough in the hope of reduce tensions on the peninsula. well there are certainly those in seoul and elsewhere around the world who hope that this does some kind of opening in an end to the rising tensions that we've seen over the past year however many analysts were somewhat cautious and skeptical of this noting that north korea in the past has also offered similar branches all of branches with little result they also noted that even if north korea does come to the olympics it's not clear that this will have any impact on the broader dispute over their north or their nuclear weapo

thank you so north korean oscillates take part in the winter olympics next month and south korea both countries have agreed to discuss the question next tuesday it could pave the way for north korean athletes to attend the upcoming games the first formal talks between the north and south in over two years. the host city for the winter olympics beyond chang is just eighty kilometers from the de-militarized zone that separates the two countries. on the ninth of january officials from both sides will meet at the truce village of parliament and twenty four team the two nations were able to reach an agreement here head of the asian games in incheon with north korean athletes crossing the border to take part. and it looks as though another deal could be on the cards according to the countries you see delegate speaking at beijing airport said that north korean participation will probably happen. there's even a possibility of the two countries marching under the same flag as they did at the two thousand and three university summer games in south korea while some experts and officials have gon

korea by showing how well defectors integrate into south korean society. but they mostly show young women describing their struggle to defect from north korea. i was told. this gives south koreans a distorted impression of defectors and it creates prejudices about the country upon them dancing or that the. seventy percent of north korean defectors are women and the ones that find themselves on t.v. often end up reinforcing our cultural stereotypes the beautiful north korean women are the best partners for south korean men. of the. shows like love unification the young north korean women are paired with south korean men who proceed to instruct them on the ways of the modern developed country in which they now live in the message and there is less subtle forms to the south korea nationalistic narrative that north korea is the weaker female nation. that needs protecting by the strong screen savvy culbert. the concern is that such a catholic a church image or and objectified image of these women is then extended to all north korean defectors and to the north korean population in general. so south koreans may end up looking down on north koreans or thinking w

those talks broke down because north korea wanted south korea to resume sending tours to north korea those turds had stopped since two thousand and eight when a south korean tourist was accidently shot but south korea refused to resume those tours and those talks broke down so those could be one of the things that they will talk about perhaps north korea might ask for some aid in return for sending or humanitarian aid in return for sending its athletes to participate in the wind upcoming winter olympics that of course all this is just speculation and we still have to wait for north korea to respond and see what they're going to say now a south korean official did say they tried to make contact with north korea via communication hotline at the demilitarized zone but unfortunately no one in north korea picked up the call so we still have to wait and see how north korea is going to respond now these talks however are as south korean officials have. put it very clearly are just going to be focused on the upcoming winter olympics as well as improving into career relations what everyone is concerned about is north korea's nuclear ambition but the president of s

one was closed two years ago in the context of an south korean president shutting down a very large industrial zone just across the dmz and north korea where about 60,000 north koreans were working for mostly south korean firms. it was the last and biggest fruit of really more than a decade of attempts at reconciliation between north and south. so i have hopes that not just this communication line, but that export zone will be reopened soon. i hope know that, but it. amy: u.n. ambassador nikki haley said tuesday north korea might be preparing for another missile test andnd warned such a move would need tougher steps against pyongyang. koreawe hear that north might be preparing for another missile test, i hope that does not happen. but if it does, we must ring even more measures to bear on the north korean regime. the civilized world must remain united and vigilant against the rogue states development of a nuclear arsenal. we will never accept a nuclear north korea will stop we won't take any of the talks seriously if they don't do something to ban all nuclear weapons in north korea. we consider this to be a very reckless regime. we d

south korea the lackey, the puppet of the u.s. so why now tharkts moment, a month before the olympics open up in south korea, are the north koreans enly seeking to have direct talks with the south? the answer is fairly simple. they see an opening between president moon, the new president of south korea, and president trump. president moon has argued that military operations and exercises with the united states should be suspended for a while during the olympics. it's president moon who has argued for direct talks with north korea and who has not talked as much about sanctioning the north. although, he has enforced the u.n. sanctions. i think that what we've seen is that kim jong-un, seeing a chance to say i'll deal with just the south koreans and see if i can weaken the 70-year-old alliance between the u.s. and south korea and strike my own deal there. as president moon has infuriated president trump with a lot of his comments before, including the one that president moon saying he has a veto right against any military action by the u.s. in the north. the administration tells me that's not the case. >> but, john, why wouldn't the

the conversation today was in large part about the upcoming olympic games in south korea. north korean leader kim jong-un wants to see his people in the games. a south korean official says that the north will send a delegation to the winter games which will include officials, athletes, cheerleaders, and journalists. there was no talk at all about north korea's looming nuclear threat at that meeting today. north korean leaders did slam president trump for claiming he had somehow played a role in getting the high-level meeting to happen. >> it's a start, a big start. >> we should lower expectations. this is merely the tiniest sliver of an opening, but it is a real opening. >> reporter: meanwhile, the u.s. and north korea remain in a war of words so to speak. it was just last week when north korean leader kim jong-un threatened the u.s. with a nuclear button on his desk. president trump responded in part saying his button is bigger. the president says he remains open to speaking with the north korean leader but only if he abandons his nuclear program. that's not likely to happen. in the d

and south korea traditional allies and perhaps this is being made much easier by the fact that in south korean president isn't as much of a hard line politician on north korea compared to previous south korean leaders now he is perhaps also trying to buy more time for north korea to pursue its nuclear ambitions because as you pointed out this was an overture that's just been made to north to south korea and not to the u.s. listen to what else he had to say. bulent you're going to assume that the u.s. mainland is within the range of our nuclear strike and the nuclear button is put on the desk in my office at all times they should clearly understand that this is never a trend sort of reality. so clearly this is an indication that the war of words with the u.s. is not going to stop it's also an indication that north korea has absolutely no plans at all to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons in fact quite the opposite kim jong un called for the mass production and deployment of nuclear warheads as well as missiles he also reiterated what was said in november that north korea has completed its push to become a nuclear force now of course the outside wor