South Korean delegation departs for talks with North on sports exchanges
 A South Korean delegation set off for the North Korean village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone on Monday (June 18) for talks with the North on joint cooperation in the upcoming Asian Games set for August as well as other sports exchanges.
The delegation from Seoul was led by the Secretary General of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, Jeon Choong-ryul. His northern counterpart was Vice Minister of Physical Culture and Sports Won Kil U. Thet two are set to meet at the Peace House on the South Korean side of Panmunjom.
Their meeting will also include talks on a 'unification' basketball game, Jeon said on Monday.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in is a supporter of the so-called 'Sunshine policy', a principle from two decades ago that said engagement through dialogue and economic and cultural exchanges would bring about a change in the North and foster peace between the two Koreas.
Moon has made a fresh effort at detente since he was voted to power in May last year. He has held his own two summits with Kim Jong Un, in April and May.
Earlier this month, South Korea asked North Korea in military talks last week to move its long-range artillery away from the border area to lessen tensions, authorities said on Sunday.
Seoul proposed that Pyongyang redeploy its artillery to a zone 30 to 40 km away from the border.
North Korea has 14,100 artillery pieces and a majority of them are based close to the border, a South Korean defense report said in 2016.