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Seoul, Pyongyang hold formal talks after two years (Lead)
Seoul, Jan 9 (IANS) South and North Korea on Tuesday held their first meeting in more than two years with a focus on facilitating Pyongyang’s participation in the upcoming Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and ways to improve their long-stalled bilateral ties.
Held at the truce village of Panmunjom, a heavily fortified border area in South Korea’s North Hwanghae province, the high-level meeting is the first of its kind since December 2015, reports Efe news.
“I came here with hopes that the two Koreas hold talks with a sincere and faithful attitude to give precious results to the Korean people who harbour high expectations for this meeting, as the first new year present,” Yonhap News Agency quoted Ri Son-gwon, North Korea’s chief delegate, as saying in his inaugural speech.
Ri is the chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, North Korea’s state agency handling affairs with the South.
“These talks started after long-frayed inter-Korean ties,” said Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, South Korea’s chief negotiator, in response.
“Well begun is half done. I hope that (the two sides) could hold the talks with determination and persistence.”
Following the hour-long first session of discussion, North Korea confirmed that it will send a delegation including athletes and supporters to the Pyeongchang Games that will take place in February in South Korea, reports the BBC.
“The North side proposed dispatching a high-level delegation, National Olympic Committee delegation, athletes, supporters, art performers, observers, a taekwondo demonstration team and journalists to the Games,” Seoul’s Vice Unification Minster Chun Hae-Sung told the media.
After a half an hour break, both delegation have started the second round of talks, according to the Unification Ministry.
Tuesday’s meeting comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un extended a rare rapprochement to Seoul in his New Year’s Day message.
He expressed a willingness to send a delegation to the Games and said the country was open for dialogue.
North Korea accepted Seoul’s dialogue offer on January 5 after South Korea and the US agreed to postpone their military drills until after the Olympics.
It also reopened a long-disconnected border hotline.
The delegations are also expected to discuss whether the two Koreas would march together under a unified Korean flag at the opening and closing ceremonies.
The last time both countries marched together under the Korean Peninsula flag was more than 10 years ago, at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
As to inter-Korean ties, Seoul will highlight the urgency of easing military tensions and resolving the issue of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War and for a possible reunion.
The talks came as North Korea is under tough international sanctions over its nuclear and missile provocations.
It conducted its sixth nuclear test and fired three intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) last year.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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