South Korea to propose talks with North Korea over pandemic support

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se / Yonhap

South Korea is to propose working-level talks with North Korea, a senior official said Sunday, in an apparent move to help the North contain the spread of COVID-19.

Last week, Pyongyang declared the implementation of a "maximum emergency" virus control system as it acknowledged an outbreak of COVID-19 for the first time since the pandemic began. North Korea had claimed for over two years that it was free of the coronavirus.

"The government is actively reviewing to officially propose holding a working-level meeting to North Korea at the beginning of the week," a senior South Korean official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity, citing policy.

The official said the administration plans to deliver its proposal to the North after holding consultations with relevant ministries.

The move could pick up speed after new Unification Minister Kwon Young-se takes office Monday.

The offer, if accepted, would mark the first talks between the two Koreas since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office last week, promising an audacious plan to vastly strengthen the North's economy in return for steps toward denuclearization.

On Friday, Yoon offered to send COVID-19 vaccines and other medical supplies to the reclusive state.

However, it remains unclear whether Pyongyang will come forward for talks amid tensions on the Korean Peninsula over the North's missile launches in recent months.

North Korea reported 15 additional COVID-19 deaths for Saturday, raising the toll to 42 since late April.

The virus has infected 820,620 North Koreans. Among them, 496,030 have recovered and 324,550 are being treated, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (Yonhap)