All eyes on Kim Jong Un's sister and Moon Jae-in handshake at Olympics opening

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The sister of Democratic People's Republic of Korea's leader Kim Jong Un shook hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Friday.

Kim Yo Jong is on a historic visit to the South for the Olympics.

Kim attended the ceremony with a DPRK senior official, the country's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) shakes hands with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, during the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic in PyeongChang, South Korea, February 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

Other guests including International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, China's envoy Han Zheng, US Vice President Mike Pence, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also attended the ceremony.

Kim Yo Jong next to Kim Yong Nam was sitting in the row behind President Moon and his wife and the guests from the IOC and the US.

The Olympics has taken place against a heated political backdrop as the DPRK is sending its senior officials, an art troupe and nearly three hundred cheerleaders.

IOC President Thomas Bach and President of South Korea Moon Jae-in attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Feb. 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

South Korea is using the Games to break the ice with the DPRK. Moon has said he wants to use the Olympic spirit to pave the way for talks over the DPRK's nuclear and missile program.

The Olympics have provided some respite from years of tense relations between the two sides. Kim Jong Un's younger sister and Moon are set to hold talks on Saturday with the DPRK's delegation to the Games.

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