S. Korea could consider temporary lifting of sanctions on N.K. officials

SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea may consider the temporary lifting of sanctions against North Korea if it is necessary to enable North Korean officials to visit the South for next month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

The measure could be considered in close coordination with the United States and other countries, foreign ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said during a regular press briefing.

During inter-Korean talks held in the truce village of Panmunjom on Tuesday, North Korea said it hoped to send a delegation of high-ranking officials, athletes and performing arts squads to the Olympic Games to be held from Feb. 9 to 25 in PyeongChang.

Some raise the possibility that it could be hard for some North Korean officials to make a trip to South Korea during the Olympics, as they are on the South's unilateral sanctions list.

kokobj@yna.co.kr
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