Politics
10:15, 10-Feb-2018
Rare high-level meeting between ROK President Moon and DPRK delegation
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Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in had a rare and historic meeting on Saturday with a delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, and the country's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam.
The meeting began shortly after 11 a.m. local time at Seoul's presidential Blue House, according to Yonhap. It was followed by a lunch hosted by Moon.
The Blue House said Moon and Kim Yong Nam will cheer together for a joint women's ice hockey team of the two sides on Saturday night.
ROK President Moon Jae-in (C) welcomes the DPRK's Kim Yong Nam (R) and Kim Yo Jong (L) at the Blue House in Seoul, ROK, February 10, 2018. /VCG Photo
ROK President Moon Jae-in (C) welcomes the DPRK's Kim Yong Nam (R) and Kim Yo Jong (L) at the Blue House in Seoul, ROK, February 10, 2018. /VCG Photo
The DPRK delegation, led by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, arrived on Friday for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony and is due to return home on Sunday.
Kim Yo Jong is the first member of her family to have ever visited the ROK. Her unprecedented encounter with Moon caught the world's attention in an opening ceremony that highlighted the themes of peace and harmony.
IOC President Thomas Bach, ROK President Moon Jae-in, his wife Kim Jung-sook and the DPRK delegation, including Kim Yo Jong, the sister of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, greet the united Korea team during the opening ceremony on February 9. /VCG Photo
IOC President Thomas Bach, ROK President Moon Jae-in, his wife Kim Jung-sook and the DPRK delegation, including Kim Yo Jong, the sister of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, greet the united Korea team during the opening ceremony on February 9. /VCG Photo
The two figures shook hands and then watched as athletes from the South and the North march together under a unified flag.
There is a strong possibility that Kim will invite Moon to visit the DPRK during the meeting, said CNN citing diplomatic sources.
Who is Kim Yo Jong?
Kim Yo Jong is said to be very close to her brother Kim Jong Un. They studied together in Switzerland from 1996 to 2000.
Kim Yo Jong, a senior member of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, is reportedly in charge of arranging her brother's "field guidance" trips and publicity.
She was lifted to an alternate member of the politburo last year.
The daughter of the country's late leader Kim Jong Il also acted as an aide to her father in his later years.
Who is Kim Yong Nam?
As president of the DPRK's legislature – the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly, 90-year-old Kim Yong Nam is the country's top lawmaker. He has held the position for two decades.
Kim Yong Nam has been a senior Workers' Party member since the 1980s, serving both late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
He is also a veteran diplomat. Though Kim Jong Un has not made an official visit overseas since taking power in 2012, Kim Yong Nam has attended events such as the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 and the 2015 Bandung Conference (the first Afro-Asian Conference) in Indonesia.