North and South Korea kicked off their first formal talks in more than two years on Tuesday, with both sides expressing optimism ahead of discussions on how the North's athletes can attend the Winter Olympics in the South despite tensions.
Regardless of its narrow, primarily sporting agenda, the meeting is being closely watched by world leaders eager for any sign of a reduction in tensions on the Korean peninsula amid rising fears over North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions.
"We came to this meeting today with the thought of giving our brethren, who have high hopes for this dialogue, invaluable results as the first present of the year...," head of North Korea's delegation Ri Son Gwon said.
North Korea entered the talks with a "serious and sincere stance", Mr Ri, chairman of the North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, said.
His counterpart, South Korea's unification minister Cho Myoung-gyon, also expressed optimism.
"Our talks began after North and South Korea were severed for a long time, but I believe the first step is half the trip," Mr Cho.
"It would be good for us to make that 'good present' you mentioned earlier."
The two sides are discussing North Korea's participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and the Paralympics as well as the improvement of inter-Korean relations.
Mr Cho has said his delegation is also preparing to discuss resuming reunions of family members separated by the Korean War, which ended in a ceasefire and technically left the two Koreas still at war.
Some South Korean officials are hoping the two Koreas may even march under a single flag at the Winter Games, which would be the first time in more than a decade that the two Koreas united under one flag at a sporting event opening.
Pointing to his briefcase before departing for the border, Mr Cho smiled and said, "I have a bit of luggage", adding, "Everything feels slightly new as we have not had talks in a while."
