BREAKING: North Korea showdown with South begins as rival start talks over Winter Olympics

Earlier Kim Jong-un had blasted the South for praising Donald Trump this weekend, leaving a back cloud lingering over talks.

South Korea are likely demand answers from the hermit state which has avoided concrete answers to direct diplomatic requests, just weeks ahead of the games which will see the world’s best winter sport athletes descending on the region.

It was agreed last week that Pyongyang would be allowed to send a delegation to the international games in the first meeting between the nations in more than two years.

Meeting in the demilitarised zone (DMZ), the neighbouring countries are expected to discuss conditions surrounding participation in the event, including the future of the North’s nuclear weapons programme.

It is expected that at the Olympics next month there will be a joint women’s hockey team but it is unlikely the countries will participate together in other events.

More to follow…