DPRK art troupe performs day before start of PyeongChang Olympics
By Hu Shichen
["china"]
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s delegation took to the stage at the Gangneung Arts Center on Thursday, less than 24 hours before the opening of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 
North of the border in Pyongyang, the DPRK was putting on a show of military strength with 10,000 personnel on parade.
It was a much smaller affair south of the border in the Olympic city of PyeongChang where the DPRK was extending the hand of friendship through culture.
The DPRK's Samjiyon Orchestra performs on February 8, 2018 in Gangneung, the Republic of Korea. /VCG Photo

The DPRK's Samjiyon Orchestra performs on February 8, 2018 in Gangneung, the Republic of Korea. /VCG Photo

The teams of the DPRK and the ROK, marching under a unification flag, parade during the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. /VCG Photo‍

The teams of the DPRK and the ROK, marching under a unification flag, parade during the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. /VCG Photo‍

More than 150,000 locals applied for free tickets to see one of only two concerts performed by the 140-member Samjiyon Orchestra.
Earlier in the day those lucky enough to see the Olympic flag raising ceremony at the athletes’ village were treated to the DPRK’s all-girls marching band. 
While no media were allowed to attend the evening performance, those CGTN talked to expressed being touched by the event.  
With the concert over, the focus now switches to Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony where the final team to enter the arena will be athletes from the DPRK and the Republic of Korea (ROK) marching as one.