China applauds next week's talks between rival Koreas

The United States said it will delay annual military exercises with South Korea until after the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

In this file photo, North Korean soldiers look at the South side as a South Korean stands guard near the spot where a North Korean soldier crossed the border at the Panmunjom, in the Demilitarized Zone, South Korea.

China is applauding news that the rival Koreas will sit down for their first formal talks in more than two years next week.

A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said at a briefing Friday- “We welcome the recent positive turn of events in the peninsular situation.”

Spokesman Geng Shuang expressed hope “all relevant parties” would take advantage of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, to “bring the issue back to the correct track of peaceful settlement through dialogue and consultation.”

Friday’s announcement of talks by South Korean officials came hours after the United States said it will delay annual military exercises with South Korea until after the Olympics.