DPRK art troupe arrives in ROK ahead of Olympics

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The 140-member art troupe from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) arrived in the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Tuesday afternoon via ferry ahead of the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Led by Moranbong Band leader Hyong Song Wol, the dancers, singers and orchestra members will perform on Thursday and Sunday as part of celebrations for the PyeongChang Olympics, which start on Friday.

The performers, on board passenger boat Mangyongbong-92, arrived at the ROK’s eastern port of Mukho at around 5 p.m. local time, reported Yonhap citing Seoul’s unification ministry.

DPRK passenger boat Mangyongbong-92 /VCG Photo‍

The ferry’s crossing the inter-Korean maritime border was arranged by Seoul, in an exception to unilateral sanctions that were imposed in 2010, after the sinking of a ROK warship by the DPRK.

The troupe consists of members of several major bands in the DPRK, including the all-female Moranbong Band, the Mansudae Art Troupe and the State Merited Chorus, according to Yonhap.

They are slated to hold concerts at the Gangneung Art Center on Thursday, before heading to the capital Seoul on Sunday for the performances at the National Theater of Korea.

DPRK passenger boat Mangyongbong-92 /VCG Photo‍

The ferry will be used as the art troupe’s accommodation in Gangneung.

Hyong Song Wol visited the ROK last month to check the performance venues in the two cities.

The troupe’s arrival was also met with a group of protesting South Koreans, holding signs and chanting slogans targeted at only carrying the ROK flag at the opening ceremony, instead of plans to carry the unification flag by members of both Koreas.

ROK protesters on the street. /CGTN Photo

The PyeongChang Winter Olympics will start Feb. 9 and last until Feb. 25. The Paralympic Games will run next month in the same venue.

The DPRK agreed to send athletes, cheerleaders and artists to the ROK-hosted winter sports event during high-level inter-Korean talks in January.