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North Korea revealed it will send a delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea next month - including athletes, high-ranking officials and a cheering squad. The news came as Pyongyng held the first formal talks with South Korea in more than two years amid dratsically strained relations. The talks are 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 missile launches and development of nuclear weapons in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions. As North Korea and South Korea meetings continue, Express.co.uk brings you the latest news, updates and pictures from the talks LIVE.

1.48pm: North Korea vows not to strike 'brethren' with nuclear weapons The discussion of North Korea's nuclear programme and its weapons arsenal, which is solely aimed at the United States, would negatively impact inter-Korean ties, a North Korean official said on Tuesday while finishing up talks with the South. "North Korea's weapons are only aimed at the United States, not our brethren, China or Russia," said Ri Son Gwon, head of North Korea's delegation

REUTERS AFP GETTY North Korea and South Korea have held the first talks in 2 years

12.56pm: North and South Korea have agreed to hold military talks, a joint statement said. North Korea also decided to send a high-ranking delegation and a cheering squad to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea next month. But the head of its delegation in the talks on Tuesday expressed negative sentiment over the mention of denuclearisation during Tuesday's discussions, the South Korean government said in a statement. South Korea on Tuesday asked North Korea to halt hostile acts that raise tension on the Korean peninsula, in the first talks between the neighbours in two years, Seoul said in a statement. North Korea responded that there was a need to guarantee a peaceful environment on the peninsula and agreed to hold future military talks with the South, it added. 12.01pm: The meetings continued on Tuesday afternoon after the two sides broke up for separate lunches. Officials began speaking at 10 am today (1.00am GMT) in the three-storey Peace House across the demilitarised zone on the South Korean side of Panmunjom truce village. South Korea's reunification minister Chun Hae-sung said: "North Korea said that they are determined to make today's talks fruitful, and make it a groundbreaking opportunity." He also said the South Koreans proposed resuming negotiations over the North's nuclear programme, but there was no specific response from the North. North Korean officials said during the meeting they were open to promoting reconciliation through dialogue and negotiations.

North Korea celebrates new year with terrifying war-themed display Tue, January 2, 2018 North Korea residents celebrated New Year’s Eve with a chilling fireworks display while despot leader Kim Jong-un used his message to threaten nuclear war on Donald Trump Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 7 Fireworks are seen above the Taedong River during New Year celebrations as visitors pose for a photo in front of an ice sculpture of an intercontinental ballistic missile at the Pyongyang Ice Sculpture Festival in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang