China welcomes positive outcome of inter-Korean talks

BEIJING -- China on Wednesday hailed the positive outcome of talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Republic of Korea (ROK).

"It is encouraging that the two sides show each others' goodwill and shake hands at a time when the situation of the Korean Peninsula is quite tense," spokesperson Lu Kang said at a daily press briefing.

The talks, the first of their kind in two years, saw agreement reached, including cooperation on the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and holding military talks to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

"China, as a close neighbor of the Korean Peninsula, welcomes and supports the moves taken by the DPRK and the ROK to thaw their relationships," Lu said.

He called on both countries to take the PyeongChang Winter Olympics as an opportunity to improve ties and advance cooperation, and made positive efforts to ease tensions on the peninsula and push the peninsula issue back to the right track of settlement through dialogue and consultation."

The international community should fully understand and support such efforts, Lu said.