US anthem to be played in N Korea

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New York's Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the US anthem at its historic concert in North Korea on 26 February.

The Star Spangled Banner will feature in a programme that will also include the North Korean anthem and Gershwin's American in Paris.

The Philharmonic's two-day trip is the first US cultural visit to North Korea and is being seen as a breakthrough in the two countries' tense relationship.

Orchestra president Zarin Mehta said it would show how "music can unite".

"All I can say is one small symphony is a giant leap," he said at a joint news conference on Tuesday with North Korea's UN ambassador, Pak Gil Yon.

Invitation

"We only play great music," he added when asked whether the choice of pieces had been politically inspired. "We don't think about politics."

The orchestra's concert in the North Korean capital Pyongyang will follow a trip to China.

After the engagement, the 250-person party will travel to Seoul in South Korea.

Pak Gil Yon said the invitation to perform had been extended to the Philharmonic several months ago.

The UN ambassador said he did not know whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il would attend the event.