DPRK to send delegation for Olympics closing ceremony

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The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has notified the Republic of Korea (ROK) of its plan to send a high-ranking delegation to the closing ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics, boosting hope for a lasting atmosphere for dialogue between the two sides, Seoul's Unification Ministry said Thursday.

The high-ranking DPRK delegation, led by Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of DPRK's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), will make a three-day visit to the ROK starting Sunday when the closing ceremony is scheduled to be held in PyeongChang.

August 21, 2015: Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the DPRK's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), speaks during a briefing for diplomats based in Pyongyang, the DPRK. /VCG Photo

Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, will accompany Kim as a delegate together with six support staff members, according to a notification issued by the DPRK earlier in the day.

The DPRK delegation will cross the western land border, which has divided the two countries since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in armistice, to attend the closing ceremony of the winter sports event that kicked off on February 9.

The Unification Ministry said in a statement that the DPRK's dispatch of its high-level delegation would help advance the process of settling peace on the Korean Peninsula, including improved inter-Korean ties and denuclearization.

Signs of rapprochement between the two sides emerged since the DPRK leader Kim Jong Un said in his New Year's address that he was willing to enhance inter-Korean relations and talk with the ROK about its participation in the Winter Olympics.

(From left to right): The Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam and the younger sister of top DPRK leader Kim Yo Jong clap as spectators wave the unification flag. /VCG Photo

The first high-level inter-Korean dialogue in about two years was held on January 9 in the truce village of Panmunjom, and the DPRK agreed to send its athletes, cheerleaders and artists as well as a senior-level delegation to the Winter Olympics.

For the February 9 opening ceremony, the DPRK dispatched a senior-level delegation, including Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

During her three-day stay in the ROK, the younger Kim met and lunched with President Moon Jae-in at Moon's presidential compound in Seoul, delivering the DPRK leader's invitation to Moon to visit Pyongyang at a convenient time.

In response, Moon said the two countries should create conditions to make it happen, asking the DPRK to more actively talk with the United States.

During a telephone conversation in January, President Moon and US President Donald Trump shared the possibility for inter-Korean talks to naturally lead to talks between the DPRK and the US.

The Trump administration will send a delegation, led by Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Trump, to attend the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Senior White House Adviser Ivanka Trump speaks as US President Donald Trump (not pictured) participates in a working session regarding the Opportunity Zones provided by tax reform in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, US, February 14, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Ivanka, also Trump's adviser, was scheduled to arrive in the ROK on Friday and have dinner with Moon at the Blue House.

The White House adviser reportedly has no plans to meet with the DPRK delegates to the Winter Olympics, but Moon was expected to emphasize the importance for talks between Pyongyang and Washington during his dinner meeting with Ivanka.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency