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North Korea to send orchestra to Winter Olympics | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
North Korea has agreed to send a 140-member orchestra to the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea next month. | |
The two sides are discussing plans for the North's delegation at Panmunjom village in the demilitarised zone (DMZ), also known as the truce village. | |
North Korea announced last week that it would send a delegation to the Games in the South - easing months of tensions. | |
Relations have been strained between the two Koreas over the North's missile tests and nuclear programme. | |
North Korea has participated in several Olympic Games before, but never in South Korea. It boycotted the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. | |
Details of the diplomatically complicated plan are still being ironed out. | Details of the diplomatically complicated plan are still being ironed out. |
Monday's talks were thought to be focused on 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 expected 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 band | Moranbong: Pyongyang's propaganda girl band |
Monday's meeting was for working-level talks - with lower-ranking officials - rather than the breakthrough high-level talks of last week. | Monday's meeting was for working-level talks - with lower-ranking officials - rather than the breakthrough high-level talks of last week. |
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. | 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. |
On Saturday, both sides will also meet at the International Olympics Committee in Switzerland, to discuss the details of North Korea's involvement. | |
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. |
The North's involvement in the Games is seen as a good public relations opportunity for both sides, and a chance to lower geopolitical tensions between the two neighbours. | |
South Korea 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. | South Korea 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. | 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". | Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said the North was "expected to respond to the proposal soon". |
'Big credit' | 'Big credit' |
The two Koreas are still technically at war, as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. | |
Tensions have also been high due to North Korea's 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | 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." | "The South Korean authorities had better ponder over what unfavourable results may be entailed by their impolite behaviour." |