Pyongyang's sudden decision to reverse its threatening armaments policy seen as positive sign before historic talks.
Speculation about a visit to Beijing by North Korea's reclusive leader or possibly his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong ran high.
The North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un will meet US president, Donald Trump in May, South Korea's national security adviser has told reporters.
North Korea is 'willing to give up nuclear weapons', Kim Jong-un told South Korean envoys in Pyongyang.
It is the first time that South Korean officials have met with Kim since he came to power in 2011.
Seoul's gesture comes after successful sports diplomacy during the Olympic games in which North Korean players took part.
A pro-North Korea paper says the US must "give up its reckless hostile policy".
"The issue of a crime against humanity committed in time of war cannot be closed with just a word," said Moon Jae-in.
North Korea's arms exporter is believed to have made at least 40 shipments through a complex smuggling network.
Chinese state media and foreign ministry rallies behind the proposal that president's two-term restriction will soon be removed.
The South Korean president has asked Washington and Pyongyang to lower their expectations before engaging in a dialogue.
Officials believe the Olympics cyberattack was in retaliation to the International Olympic Committee's decision to ban Russia over the state-sponsored doping scandal.
Female cheering squad seen at Winter Olympics reported to be forced into sexual acts by North Korea military personal.
North Korea's top delegation, led by Kim Yong-chol, is in South Korea to take part in the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics.
From North Korean hacking groups to a JPMorgan Chase "technical" glitch affecting multiple online banking customers, here are the top cyber-related news stories of the week.
"Lol. Suck it, Mike Pence," one Twitter user wrote tauntingly.
The daughter of President Donald Trump is leading the U.S. delegation at this weekend's closing ceremony for the Pyeongchang Games.
Fresh sanctions are due to be announced against North Korea just as Ivanka Trump arrives in the peninsula.
North Korean delegation for Winter Olympics closing ceremony includes Kim Yong Chol of Workers' Party Central Committee who has been blamed for the 2010 sinking of a South Korean ship.
Both speculation and expectation of possible talks are growing since the US first daughter Ivanka Trump will also be present at the closing ceremony.
South Korean foreign ministry says inter-Korea and US-Korea talks are the only ways to ease tensions in the Korean peninsula.
"We believe this is the next team to watch," FireEye's director of intelligence analysis John Hultquist said.