김영철, 김정은 대신 조명균과 환담... 국제 탁구•사격경기 참가 시사

As inter-Korean basketball games are held for back to back days, it wasn't just the athletes busy learning more about each other, officials of the two Koreas also made contact.
On behalf of the regime's leader, who could not be at the venue,... his right-hand-man met with Seoul's unification minister.
Oh Jung-hee has our top story.
On Thursday morning, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand-man, Kim Yong-chol -- who heads Pyongyang's department in charge of inter-Korean ties -- made a sudden visit to the Koryo Hotel to meet South Korean officials including Seoul's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon.
Speaking with Minister Cho,... he explained he came on behalf of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un,... as he went out for on-site inspections.

"Our Chairman went to give field guidance in cities far from the capital, so he might not be able to watch the games today. He told me to ask for Minister Cho's understanding and for us to have a chat."

Seoul's unification minister responded he appreciates the attention Kim Jong-un's been showing on the inter-Korean basketball games,... being the one who first suggested them.
Minister Cho added...

"I think this round of inter-Korean basketball games could contribute greatly to forming a women's unified team for the upcoming Asian Games as well."

Cho and Kim agreed that the two Koreas should work together so their teams can successfully march together at the Asian Games, using the Korean Unification Flag.
But there will be more opportunities for inter-Korean sports exchanges before and after the Asian Games.
North Korea is to participate in both the upcoming 2018 Korea Open Table Tennis competition in July and World Shooting Championship in August.

"We will be competing in the table tennis event in the South. And we're thinking of participating in the shooting competition as well."

Cho and Kim shared the progress of a series of recently held inter-Korean talks and agreed that the two Koreas should quickly implement all agreements... and bring tangible results.
They also agreed that the two sides should prepare for the next round of inter-Korean basketball games and North Korean art troupe's concert, both of which will take place in Seoul in the fall.
And according to Seoul's unification minister,... the two Koreas will hold additional rounds of working-level or high-level talks... to iron out these matters.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.