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North Korea has strong will to improve inter-Korean relations: South Korea

North Korea has strong will to improve inter-Korean relations: South Korea

South Korea, North Korea

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US defense secretary Jim Mattis said the recent Olympic bonhomie between the two countries did not mean peace will reign on the Korean peninsula.

As the Winter Olympics got underway in South Korea last week with North Korean team walking jointly with their southern neighbours, South Korea said it will arrange more family reunions in the future.

"The visit shows that North Korea has a strong will to improve inter-Korean relations and that Pyongyang can make unprecedented and bold measures if deemed necessary," Ministry of Unification said in a statement.

Kim Jong Un's younger sister Kim Yo Jong has been actively attending the winter games in Pyeongchang. Yo Jong attending the opening ceremony on Sunday sitting next to the wife of US vice-president Mike Pence.

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"Under a strong position for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, Korea will faithfully implement the international sanctions on North Korea, while also adhering to the principle of resolution through peaceful means," the statement added.

Yo Jong and her delegation met with top South Korean government officials including president Moon as tensions between the two countries seem to ebb.

However, US defense secretary Jim Mattis said the recent Olympic bonhomie between the two countries did not mean peace will reign on the Korean peninsula.

"Clearly it is too early to say... if that is going to have any traction once the Olympics are over," the US defense secretary said.

"In the midst of all of this, he (Kim Jong Un) ran a military parade that highlighted his ballistic missiles," he added.