By Lee Hana

Cheong Wa Dae released a statement on Jan. 1 welcoming North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's proposal to bring the two Koreas together for talks ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

In his New Year's speech, the North Korean leader declared his wish for a "peaceful resolution with our southern border" and offered talks about sending a delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month.

During a press briefing on Jan. 1, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Soo-hyun said, "If the PyeongChang Winter Games are able to set the stage for an Olympics of Peace, it would help to propagate peace and harmony across the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and the entire world."

Moreover, he said, "For matters related to restoring North-South relations and establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, Cheong Wa Dae has expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang without restriction as to time, place or formality."

Finally, he said that Cheong Wa Dae wishes that North and South Korea cooperate closely with the international community to resolve the nuclear weapons issue in a peaceful manner.

"The North and South, as the parties directly affected by issues on the Korean Peninsula, should responsibly face one another to find ways to reduce tension and establish peace in the region," he said.

hlee10@korea.kr