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North and South Korea discuss sending art troupe to Winter Olympics North and South Korea discuss sending art troupe to Winter Olympics
(about 2 hours later)
North and South Korea have begun talks on Pyongyang's plan to send an art troupe to the Winter Olympics taking place next month in the South. North and South Korea are holding further talks on the North's plan to attend the Winter Olympics Games.
North Korea agreed last week to send a delegation to the Games, easing months of tensions between the neighbours over its nuclear programme. North Korea agreed last week to send a delegation to the Games in the South, easing months of tensions between the neighbours.
Seoul then proposed wider talks on Monday about the North's participation. But the details of the diplomatically complicated plan are still being ironed out.
But Pyongyang instead offered to discuss just the attendance of its state-run artistic performers. The latest talks are focusing on the artistic troupe the North would like to send to South Korea.
South Korea had been pushing for the North to be involved in the Games dubbed the "Peace Olympics", saying it was a chance to improve relations between the two Koreas. The two sides are meeting in the shared border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone (DMZ), also known as the truce village.
The two sides are meeting in the shared border village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone (DMZ), also known as truce village. The two sides were expected to discuss details including the number of performers, their travel route and their schedules, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
Four delegates from each side were scheduled to attend the talks, with the North's delegation including Hyon Song-wol, the leader of the popular all-female pop group, the Moranbong Band. Four delegates from each side were scheduled to attend, with the North's delegation including Hyon Song-wol, the leader of the popular all-female pop group, the Moranbong Band.
Moranbong: Pyongyang's propaganda girl bandMoranbong: Pyongyang's propaganda girl band
The two sides are expected to discuss details including the number of performers, their travel route and schedules, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. Monday's meeting is for working level talks - with lower ranking officials - rather than the breakthrough high level talks of last week.
Last week, during the first high level talks in more than two years between the countries, Pyongyang said it would send athletes, cheerleaders, an art troupe and a taekwondo team to the Winter Olympics taking place from 9-25 February in Pyeongchang. At last week's high level inter-Korean talks, the first in more than two years, Pyongyang said it wanted to send athletes, cheerleaders, an art troupe and a taekwondo team to the Winter Olympics taking place from 9-25 February in Pyeongchang.
North and South Korea are set to hold talks with the International Olympics Committee in Switzerland next Saturday to discuss the participation of North Korean athletes at the Games. Next Saturday, both sides will also meet the International Olympics Committee in Switzerland, to discuss the details of North Korea's involvement.
South Korea has said that it was pursuing a unified Korean team in women's hockey with North Korea, but that it had yet to hear back from Pyongyang. It added that it had no plans to push for a joint team in any other sport.
Seoul also proposed last week that athletes from both the North and South march in jointly together at the opening ceremony. North Korea is said to be "positively" considering this.
Only two North Korean athletes currently qualify for the Games - figure skaters Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik.Only two North Korean athletes currently qualify for the Games - figure skaters Ryom Tae-ok and Kim Ju-sik.
North Korea has participated in several Olympics Games before, but not in South Korea. It boycotted the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.North Korea has participated in several Olympics Games before, but not in South Korea. It boycotted the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
Seoul has proposed that athletes from both the North and South march jointly together in the opening ceremony. North Korea is said to be "positively" considering this.
The South has also suggested a unified Korean team for the women's hockey tournament.
Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said the North was "expected to respond to the proposal soon".
'Big credit'
Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been high for months amid North Korea's continued nuclear programme and frequent ballistic missile tests.
The latest test, on 28 November, sparked a new series of measures from the UN, targeting petrol shipments and travel for North Koreans.
US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un have also conducted an increasingly bitter feud, with the US leader dubbing Mr Kim "Rocket Man" and both boasting about their nuclear capabilities.
Last week, Pyongyang criticised South Korean leader Moon Jae-in after he said Mr Trump deserved "big credit" for the North-South talks.
It indirectly threatened to pull out of the Olympics, with state media outlet KCNA saying: "[South Korea] should know that train and bus carrying our delegation to the Olympics are still in Pyongyang."
"The South Korean authorities had better ponder over what unfavourable results may be entailed by their impolite behaviour."