South Korea has welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's New Year's speech where he proposed to open inter-Korean talks and hinted at sending a delegation to the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun said on Monday that Seoul welcomes Kim's expression of willingness to send a delegation to the games and proposed talks between the two Koreas to discuss the matter. 

The spokesman said that Seoul is ready to engage in dialogue anytime and anywhere regardless of the format. 

As for preparations for working-level inter-Korean talks, a senior presidential office official said that the two Koreas will now have to set up a direct communication channel to improve cross-border relations.