North Korea and South Korea agree to resume formal high-level talks

North Korea and South Korea have agreed to resume formal high-level talks, the South Korean media reported.

The talks between the two countries had been suspended since February 2014.

The agreement came during a surprise visit to South Korea by North Korean officials for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games in Incheon.

The visit was led by two top-ranking North Korean officials seen as close aides to leader Kim Jong-un.

Both sides were said to have agreed to meet again within the next few weeks.

Hwang Pyong-so, seen as the second-most powerful man in North Korea, held talks with Ryoo Kihl-jae, the South’s reunification minister, on October 4 after flying to Incheon to attend the sporting event.

He is the top political officer at the Korean People’s Army.

The other two members of the North’s delegation were Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon – key members of the ruling Workers’ Party.

It is not known what was discussed at the meeting and neither party has commented publicly on the talks.

Relations between North Korea and South Korea have been practically non-existent for four years, but the North’s economic troubles seem to have forced a change of tack.

The two Koreas remain technically at war because the 1950-53 conflict was ended with a truce.

The surprise meeting comes amid ongoing speculation about the health of Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-un has not been seen in public since September 3. A recent official documentary showed him overweighed and limping.