N. Korea's Kim Yong-nam to visit South Korea for PyeongChang Winter Olympics
- 6 years ago
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Officials in Seoul have confirmed that North Korea's ceremonial leader Kim Yong-nam will travel to South Korea this week,... leading the North's high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
For more on his visit, and the regime's possible reasons for picking him,... Lee Seung-jae reports.
From U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier,... to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games will be attended by a number of key government delegates from around the world.
As for North Korea,... South Korean officials have confirmed that Kim Yong-nam, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, will visit the South from February 9th to the 11th-- leading the first highest-level official delegation to South Korea in four years.
The North stated the delegation will also include three other officials and 18 support staff, without providing further details.
Some believe the team will include North Korean officials blacklisted under international and stand-alone sanctions,... including North Korea's second-in-command Choe Ryong-hae and Choe Hwi, the deputy director of the Worker's Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department.
No further details were given on whether Kim Yong-nam plans to attend Friday's opening ceremony in Pyeongchang.
However, if he does, that would put him in the company of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence amid high tension between the two countries over the North's nuclear and missile ambitions.
However, despite all this, experts believe, with the latest decision,... North Korea is attempting to break out of its diplomatic isolation, and have him join other global leaders at the Winter Games.
South Korea's presidential office welcomed the decision, calling it "a reflection of North Korea's willingness to improve inter-Korean ties and help make the PyeongChang Winter Games a success."
While Kim Yong-nam has met with former South Korean Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun in Pyongyang in 2000 and 2007,... this trip will be his first to the South,... as many wonder,... if he will bring with him any warm messages from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Officials in Seoul have confirmed that North Korea's ceremonial leader Kim Yong-nam will travel to South Korea this week,... leading the North's high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
For more on his visit, and the regime's possible reasons for picking him,... Lee Seung-jae reports.
From U.S. Vice President Mike Pence to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier,... to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games will be attended by a number of key government delegates from around the world.
As for North Korea,... South Korean officials have confirmed that Kim Yong-nam, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, will visit the South from February 9th to the 11th-- leading the first highest-level official delegation to South Korea in four years.
The North stated the delegation will also include three other officials and 18 support staff, without providing further details.
Some believe the team will include North Korean officials blacklisted under international and stand-alone sanctions,... including North Korea's second-in-command Choe Ryong-hae and Choe Hwi, the deputy director of the Worker's Party of Korea Propaganda and Agitation Department.
No further details were given on whether Kim Yong-nam plans to attend Friday's opening ceremony in Pyeongchang.
However, if he does, that would put him in the company of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence amid high tension between the two countries over the North's nuclear and missile ambitions.
However, despite all this, experts believe, with the latest decision,... North Korea is attempting to break out of its diplomatic isolation, and have him join other global leaders at the Winter Games.
South Korea's presidential office welcomed the decision, calling it "a reflection of North Korea's willingness to improve inter-Korean ties and help make the PyeongChang Winter Games a success."
While Kim Yong-nam has met with former South Korean Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun in Pyongyang in 2000 and 2007,... this trip will be his first to the South,... as many wonder,... if he will bring with him any warm messages from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.