Three of North Korea's top officials visited Seoul for the finish of the Asia Games and agreed Saturday to continuing talks with South Korea on easing tensions later this month or in early November.

While Kim Jong-Un wasn't among the delegation that surprised the world with its unexpected visit and announcement, analysts believed he still remained very much in charge of the nation. He was said to be recovering from some kind of medical procedure possibly involving surgery for fractured ankles.

Like Us on Facebook

The surprising announcement about resuming top-level discussions aimed at easing tensions between the two Koreas didn't contain any specifics. However, it seemed to build on August proposals by South Korea to resume reunion visits for families separated by war 60 years ago. North Korea rejected those offers, saying South Korean activists needed first to stop releasing propaganda balloons over the North.

The North Korean delegation including Hwang Pyong-so, top North Korean military political officer believed to be Kim's second-in-command, sat down with top South Korean leaders including Kim Kwan-jin, chief national security adviser to President Park Geun-hye and Ryoo Kil-jae, South Korean Unification Minister. The talks were held on Saturday at the port city of Incheon, host to the Asian Games.

While details about what were discussed at the meeting weren't divulged, Choe Ryong Hae, the chief North Korean sports official, who was at the meeting, said South Korea had been a big help to that nation's athletes at the games that ended Saturday.

The luncheon meeting resulted in an agreement to hold what were termed a second round of dialogue about family reunions to be held in February. The two sides also agreed to re-starting formal talks sometime later this month or early next month.

Technically still at war even though direct hostilities ended in 1953 in a truce, the two sides had experienced particularly rocky relations during the last few years. However, relations seemed to be thawing the last few months, analysts said.

TagsNorth Korea, Reunification, Kim Kwan-jin, Incheon, Park Geun Hye, Korean War