ROK president to meet DPRK delegation on Feb. 10

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Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in will meet the visiting high-ranking delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday, including the DPRK leader Kim Jong Un's sister, the presidential Blue House said on Thursday.

It will be a first time the Kim family has visited the Blue House.

"President Moon plans to hold a meeting and have lunch with the North Korean (DPRK) delegation on Feb. 10," spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a press briefing, adding that the delegation will also attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympic Games on Friday.

The DPRK cheerleaders leave after a welcoming ceremony for DPRK's Olympic team at the Olympic Village in Gangneung on Feb. 8, 2018, ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. /VCG Photo

The 22-member DPRK delegation is due to arrive in the ROK via a private jet on Friday, led by Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. The delegation also includes Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong, who serves as the first vice director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

Two other DPRK delegates were Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, and Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.

Moon's meeting with delegates from his northern neighbor will be held one day after the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, which runs from Friday to Feb. 25.

Athletes from the DPRK and ROK will march together at Friday's opening ceremony and a group of cheerleaders from the DPRK has already arrived.