Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on today’s high level talks between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK

The high-level talks held today between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) are an encouraging signal, representing a positive step towards the improvement of inter-Korean relations. We welcome the joint announcement on the attendance of a DPRK delegation at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (Republic of Korea) next month and on the holding of military talks between the two sides, which can be conducive to fostering trust and de-escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.  We hope that today's talks and the envisaged further exchanges between the Republic of Korea and the DPRK will be a building block for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and also prepare the ground for the DPRK to engage in a broader, credible and meaningful dialogue, aimed at pursuing the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the peninsula. We, as the European Union will continue to work towards this goal.