Seoul welcomes Kim's New Year addresss

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea's presidential office on Monday welcomed the New Year address by Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as Kim showed his willingness to talk with Seoul about the DPRK's possible participation in the South Korea-hosted Winter Olympics.

Presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun told a news conference that the Blue House welcomed Kim's speech in which he stressed the need to improve inter-Korean relations and expressed his willingness to send a delegation to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The spokesman said that if the Pyeongchang Olympics are held successfully, it will contribute to peace and harmony on the Korean Peninsula as well as in Northeast Asia and the world.