| Jan.
1 | - Kim Jong-un’s 2018 New
Year’s address
- △ Dispatched delegates for the
PyeongChang Olympics and showed readiness for talks △
Emphasized the significance of the completion of nuclear
development and asserted, “The nuclear button is always on
my desk”; △ Emphasized mass production of nuclear missile
and combat arrangements; △ Stated, “We are a nuclear power
with the responsibility to love peace”, and referenced the
non-use and non-threat of a preemptive nuclear attack
|
| Jan. 1 | - Cheong Wa Dae, the Blue House: North
Korea Chairman Kim Jong-un brought up the necessity of
improving inter-Korea relations at his New Year’s address,
revealing a readiness to dispatch delegates to the
PyeongChang Olympics and expressing welcome for a meeting
between North and South authorities for this occasion
(comment by spokesperson)
|
| Jan. 2 | - Minister of
Unification: Proposed to the North to hold a meeting of
high-level inter-Korea talks at the 1.9 Panmunjom “truce
village” for talks concerning the matter of North
participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and other
related matters
|
| Jan. 3 |
- Chairperson of the Committee for
the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRK) of the
North: Opened the communication channel in Panmunjom for
inter-Korea talks on the 3rd of January at 15:00 “according
to the delegation of Chairman Kim Jong-un”, and presented
willingness for discussion of PyeongChang Olympic practical
matters (Korean Central TV)
-Made public that Kim
Jong-un ordered for urgent establishment of practical
measures of the United Front Work Department and other
related agencies |
| Jan. 3 |
- 15:30: Reoperation of
communication channel in Panmunjom through the inter-Korea
Liaison Office* Restoration after one year and eleven months
since discontinuance on February 12, 2016
|
| Jan. 4 | - o ROK-US:
Agreement to suspend joint military drills during Olympics
(phone call between summits)
- (ROK President): “Close
discussion with the US during process of inter-Korea talks.
Confident that it helped create an atmosphere for US-DPRK
talks for a solution to the North Korean nuclear
problem”
- (US President Trump): “You can say that
there will be no military drills during the Olympics. I will
evaluate the accomplishment of the inter-Korea talks and
hope for a good outcome. There will be a dispatch of
high-level delegates including family members during the
Olympics” |
| Jan. 5 | - ROK President: Commented that he will
not simply seek a weak conversation as in the past, but will
promote talks based on strong national defense and will seek
peace as well (at invitation luncheon of the Korean Senior
Citizens Association)
|
| Jan.
5 | - North Korea: Report of
acceptance of South Korea’s proposal for talks (Jan. 2)
|
| Jan. 6 | - ROK Government: Report of Minister of
Unification Cho Myung-gyun and four others as
representatives of talks
|
| Jan. 7 | - North Korea.
Report of Chairman Ri Son-gwon of the Committee for the
Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland (CPRF) and four
others as representatives of talks
|
| Jan. 9 | - Inter-Korea
high-level talks and acceptance of joint press release
(South side of Panmunjom truce village)
-Representatives: (South) Minister of Unification (chief
representative) Cho Myung-gyun, Vice Minister of Unification
Chun Hae-sung, Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and
Tourism Roh Tae-kang, Deputy Director-General of Prime
Minister’s Office Ahn Moon-hyun, and Deputy General
Secretary for Planning on the PyeongChang Winter
Olympics/Paralympics Organizing Committee Kim Ki-hong
(North) Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful
Reunification of the Fatherland (delegation leader) Ri
Son-kwon, chief delegate of CPRF Jon Jong-su, Vice Sports
Minister Won Gil-woo, Director of CPRF Hwang Chung-song, and
National Olympic Committee of the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea member Ri Kyong-sik
-Joint Press
Release:
① Active cooperation for the PyeongChang
Winter Olympics and Paralympics (dispatch of high-level
delegates, National Olympic Committee delegates, athletes,
cheering team, performing team, observers, Taekwondo
demonstrators, reporters)
② Ease military tensions,
create peaceful environment, and make cooperative efforts to
promote national reconciliation and unity (hold inter-Korea
military talks, activate contact/visits, exchange, and
cooperation)
③ Respect inter-Korea announcements,
resolve inter-Korea issues through dialogue and negotiation
as concerned parties (hold talks concerning each area with
inter-Korea high-level talks) |
| Jan. 9 | - North Korea:
Release facts to public regarding restoration of military
communication line of the Yellow Sea at inter-Korea
high-level talks
- South Korea confirms connection of
communication by wire at 14:00 |
| Jan. 10 | - North Korea:
Progression of inter-Korea high-level talks and official
report of “joint press release” (Korean Central TV, Korean
Central News Agency)
|
| Jan.
10 | - ROK President: Expressed
position of major pending problems such as inter-Korea
relations through the New Year’s address (New Year’s press
conference)
- △ Goal to resolve North nuclear problem
during term in office and attain stability of peace; △ Basic
stance that he cannot yield denuclearization of the Korean
peninsula; △ PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics must be
turning point for peace in the Korean peninsula and
improvement of inter-Korea relations; △ Will do his best to
make this year the new first year of peace for the Korean
peninsula
- △ (Upon receiving question of condition of
summit meeting): Will agree to summit meeting if
circumstances allow, and if there are prospects; △ (Upon
receiving question of possibility of lifting sanctions):
Will work with international society and aid. Has no
intention to lift sanctions on his own. |
| Jan. 11 | - North
Korea: Demands discontinuance of all ROK-US joint military
drills (Rodong Sinmun)
|
| Jan.
12 | - ROK Government: Proposal
for working-level talks concerning North’s participation in
the PyeongChang Olympics (Jan. 15 truce village)
|
| Jan. 13 |
- North Korea: Regarding South’s proposal for talks (Jan.
12), the North makes proposal for priority discussion of
issue concerning performance arts team (Jan. 15
Tongilgak)
|
| Jan. 13 |
- ROK Government. Received North’s
modified proposal for priority discussion of issue
concerning performance arts team
|
| Jan. 15 | - Meeting of
“inter-Korea working-level contact for dispatch of North
Korean performance arts team” and acceptance of joint press
release (North side of Panmunjom truce village)
-Representatives: (South) Deputy Minister for Culture and
Art Policy (chief representative) Lee Woo-sung, Ministry of
Unification 3rd Inter-Korea Dialogue Division Director Han
Jong-wook, Korean Symphony Orchestra CEO Lee Won-choul, and
Korean Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director Chong
Chi-yong
(North) Culture Ministry Arts and Performance
Bureau (delegation leader) Director Kwon Hyok-bong, North
Korea orchestra leader Hyon Song-wol, official in charge of
administrative tasks with orchestra Kim Sun-ho, performing
arts group stage manager An Jong-ho, and head of Ministry of
Culture Kim Jong-su -Joint Press Release:
① Dispatch
of 140 member performance team Samjiyon Orchestra
②
Performances to be held in Gangneung and Seoul
③
Practical issues to be resolved through mutual talks; North
dispatch of preliminary inspection team
④ Guarantee of
safety and accommodation of North performance team
⑤
Agreement to address other practical issues in the form of
document exchange through Panmunjom |
| Jan. 15 | - North Korea:
Proposal for modification of inter-Korea high-level talks
and working-level talks (Jan. 17 truce village)
|
| Jan. 15 |
- ROK Government: Agrees to North’s amended proposal for
inter-Korea high-level talks and working-level talks
|
| Jan. 16 | - ROK Government: Inauguration of
government joint support team concerning North Korea
participation at PyeongChang Olympics
|
| Jan. 16 | - North Korea:
Report of outcome of working-level contact for dispatch of
performance team (Korean Central News Agency)
|
| Jan. 17 | - o
Meeting of “inter-Korea high-level talks and working-level
talks” (North and South sides of Panmunjom truce
village)
-Representatives: (South) Vice Minister of
Unification Chun Hae-sung, Prime Minister’s Office Deputy
Director-General Ahn Moon-hyun, and PyeongChang Winter
Olympics/Paralympics Organizing Committee Deputy General
Secretary of Planning Kim Ki-hong
(North) Committee
for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland chief
delegate Jon Jong-su, Vice Sports Minister Won Gil-woo,
Korean Central News Agency reporter Kim Kang-guk
-Joint Press Release:
① North and South to march
together at opening ceremony (under Korean unification flag)
② Joint women’s ice hockey team
③ Dispatch of
230 members of cheering team
④ 30 Taekwondo
demonstrators, exhibition performances at PyeongChang and
Seoul
⑤ Jan. 25-27 dispatch of preliminary team by the
North
⑥ Joint culture event at Geumgangsan Mountain
and joint training at Masingnyeong Ski Resort; Jan. 23-25
dispatch of South Korean preliminary team |
| Jan. 19 | - North
Korea: Notifies South of preliminary inspection team visit
for dispatch of performance team (Jan. 20 - 21)
|
| Jan. 19 |
- ROK Government: Agrees to preliminary inspection team
visit for dispatch of North performance team (Jan.
20-21)
|
| Jan. 19 | - ROK Government: Notifies North regarding
Geumgangsan Mountain culture event and dispatch of
preliminary team visit concerning joint training at
Masingnyeong Ski Resort (Jan. 23-25)
|
| Jan. 19 | - Around 22:00,
North Korea: Notifies South of suspension of preliminary
inspection team visit for dispatch of performance team
|
| Jan. 20 | - ROK Government: Shows expression of regret for
suspension of visit and makes request to North for reason of
suspension of dispatch of preliminary inspection team for
performance arts team
|
| Jan.
20 | - North Korea: Notifies South
of preliminary inspection team visit for dispatch of
performance team (Jan. 21-22)
|
| Jan. 20 | - o IOC Chairman
Bach supervises North-South NOC and holds four-person
meeting of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee, giving
final approval of North Korean participation in the
PyeongChang Olympics
- △ Five categories, 22 athletes,
24 staff members and coaches, 21 news team members; △
Organization of joint women’s ice hockey team (authority to
choose participating players and starting players given to
South Korean coach; each game to include minimum of 3 North
Korean players) △ North-South joint entrance at opening
ceremony and use of Korean unification flag |
| Jan. 21 | - North
Korea: Agrees to South Korea’s culture event at Geumgangsan
Mountain and dispatch of preliminary team concerning joint
training at Masingnyeong Ski Resort (Jan. 23-25)
|
| Jan. 21 | - o
North Korea: Notifies South of dispatch of preliminary team
concerning participation in PyeongChang Olympics (Jan.
25-27)
|
| Jan. 21 | - ROK Government: Agrees to dispatch of
North preliminary team concerning participation in
PyeongChang Olympics (Jan. 25-27)
|
| Jan. 21 | - o North
Korea: Dispatch of preliminary inspection team for
performance arts team (~22)
-Hyon Song-wol, head of
the Samjiyon Orchestra, and 7 others make visit by land via
Gyeongui Railroad
-Pre-inspection of Gangneung Art
Center and Haeoreum Grand Theater in Seoul National Theater
of Korea performance facilities |
| Jan. 22 | - o ROK President:
“In a situation where one cannot be sure of how long this
atmosphere between South-North talks will last, wisdom and
efforts are necessary to maintain the mood even after the
PyeongChang Olympics (at meeting with top secretaries at
Cheong Wa Dae, the Blue House)
|
| Jan. 23 | - o ROK
Government: Dispatch of preliminary team to the North side
of Geumgangsan Mountain for culture event and joint training
at Masingnyeong Ski Resort (~25)
-Director General Lee
Joo-tae of the Ministry of Unification and 12 others visit
North Korea by land via Donghae Railroad
-Inspection
of Geumgangsan Mountain culture event, Masingnyeong Ski
Resort, Wonsan Kalma Airport |
| Jan. 23 | - North Korea:
Criticizes South conservative group’s burning of Kim
Jong-un’s photo, North Korean flag, and other performances
(statement made by spokesperson of Committee for the
Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland)
-Stated that
serious consideration of the behaviors following the Winter
Olympics could not be avoided, calling for an
apology, punishment of person(s) in charge, and deliberation
of measures for prevention of recurrence |
| Jan. 24 | - North
Korea: Demands discontinuance of ROK-US joint military
drills and development of strategic platform (joint talks of
government, political parties, and organizations)
|
| Jan. 25 | - o
North Korea: Dispatch of PyeongChang Olympics pre-inspection
team (~27) and women’s ice hockey team by land via Gyeongui
Railroad
- (Preliminary inspection team): Deputy
Director Yun Yong-bok of the Ministry of Physical Culture
and Sports and 8 others / Confirmation of stadium for
opening and closing ceremonies, stadiums, lodging, media
center
-(Ice hockey team): 12 players, 1 coach, 2
supporting staff / Entrance to Jincheon National Training
Center |
| Jan. 26 | - ROK-US: Discussion regarding “diplomatic
solution to North Korea nuclear problem” (Conference of
Ministry of National Defense, Hawaii)
|
| Jan. 29 | - Ministry of
National Defense Minister: Commented that North Korea will
be wiped off the map upon its use of nuclear weapons on
ROK-US (Singapore Fullerton Forum)
|
| Jan. 29 | - o North
Korea: Gives notice of cancellation of North-South joint
culture performance at Geumgangsan Mountain (scheduled for
Feb. 4)
-Commented that South Korean media insulted
North Korea’s “sincere actions” and “even found dispute with
internal festivities” of North Korea, to the point that they
“have no choice but to cancel” |
| Jan. 30 | - ROK President:
Commented that he failed to consider the athletes’ points of
view regarding the women’s joint ice hockey (at the
secretary and deputy secretary workshop)
|
| Jan. 30 | - ROK
Government: Notifies the North with regretful stance
regarding the North’s notice of cancellation of Geumgangsan
Mountain culture event (Jan. 29)
-Commented that an
agreement must surely be made on the grounds of mutual
respect and a spirit of understanding |
| Jan. 31 | - North-South:
Joint training at Masingnyeong Ski Resort (~Feb. 1)
-South Korea Ministry of Unification Director General Lee
Joo-tae (head) and 45 delegates (skiers, support staff,
joint coverage team) - transportation by chartered plane
Yangyang ↔Wonsan |
| Jan.
31 | - North Korea: Claims that
the cause of Geumgangsan Mountain joint culture event
cancellation was due to “rash behavior against the same
peoples” by “the conservatives of the South” (The Choson
Sinbo)
|
| Jan. 31 | - North Korea: Criticizes the second
meeting of ROK-US high-level Extended Deterrence Strategy
and Consultation Group talks (Jan. 17), threatening to
extinguish the flame of improving inter-Korea relations
(Korean Central News Agency)
|
