DPRK, ROK to hold talks on Asian Games

SEOUL -- The Republic of Korea (ROK )and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed Monday to hold working-level talks on July 17 about the latter's participation in the upcoming Asian Games.

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Kim Eui-do, spokesman of ROK's Unification Ministry, told a press briefing that the DPRK sent a notice in agreement to ROK's last Friday's offer to hold such talks on July 17 at the Peace House, the administrative building in the ROK side of Panmunjom.

The notice was sent early Monday through the liaison office in the border village of Panmunjom, the spokesman said.

On July 9, the DPRK offered to hold such talks on July 15 over Pyongyang's participation in the 17th Asian Games to be held in the ROK's western port city of Incheon from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

Seoul made a counter proposal to hold the dialogue on July 17, citing a necessary time for preparations such as forming a delegation and internal discussions on the dialogue topic.

Pyongyang has announced its plan to dispatch some 150 athletes to the Asian Games along with a large cheering squad.

During the talks, the two sides are expected to discuss various issues, including how the DPRK sports delegation and the cheering squad will move in Incheon, how much the ROK will pay for their stay and whether the two nations will march together at the opening ceremony or cheer together for the multisport event.

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