Culture
22:53, 29-Jan-2018
DPRK cancels joint performance with S. Korea, blames South media
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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has cancelled a joint cultural performance with South Korea scheduled for Feb. 4, blaming South Korean media for encouraging "insulting" public sentiment regarding the DPRK, South Korea's unification ministry said on Monday.
Seoul said DPRK's decision to cancel the joint performance was "very regrettable" and stressed Pyongyang should uphold all agreements made between the DPRK and South Korea.
Hyon Song Wol (2nd L, front), head of DPRK's Samjiyon Orchestra, visits a venue near Gangneung Olympic Park in South Korea's Gangwon Province, Jan. 21, 2018. /VCG Photo
Hyon Song Wol (2nd L, front), head of DPRK's Samjiyon Orchestra, visits a venue near Gangneung Olympic Park in South Korea's Gangwon Province, Jan. 21, 2018. /VCG Photo
Early in January, the DPRK and South Korea launched rare talks to bring the DPRK to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics after DPRK leader Kim Jong Un said he was willing to open up discussions with Seoul.
The two Koreas had been in discussions regarding final details over the joint performance. They were also talking about a different concert in South Korea by a DPRK orchestra and sending South Korean athletes to train at a DPRK ski resort.
The DPRK added that the agreement on Mount Kumgang joint performance had come despite conflict with its internal celebrations, the unification ministry said. The DPRK has at least two major holidays coming up next month－Kim Jong Il’s birthday and a military founding anniversary.
Seoul said DPRK’s decision to cancel the joint performance was “very regrettable” and stressed Pyongyang should uphold all agreements made between the DPRK and South Korea.
Players and coaches of the South and DPRK's women's ice hockey team exchange ideas at South Korea's Jincheon National training center in Jincheon, Seoul, South Korea, January 25, 2018. /VCG Photo
Players and coaches of the South and DPRK's women's ice hockey team exchange ideas at South Korea's Jincheon National training center in Jincheon, Seoul, South Korea, January 25, 2018. /VCG Photo
President Moon Jae-in’s administration has faced criticism for its response to DPRK’s participation in the Games, especially after it decided to form a combined women’s ice hockey team with athletes from the two Koreas for the Winter Olympics.
Many South Koreans have complained the unified women’s hockey team－the only such joint team to be formed－was unfair to the South Korean players, going so far as creating over a hundred petitions against the unified team on the presidential Blue House’s website.
The controversy has sent South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s overall approval rating below 60 percent for the first time since he took office in May last year, according to a survey released last week by South Korean pollster Realmeter, dropping more than 6 percentage points since the previous week.
Source(s): Reuters