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N Korean pop band Moranbong ends China goodwill tour | N Korean pop band Moranbong ends China goodwill tour |
(1 day later) | |
An all-female pop group from North Korea have ended their goodwill tour of China - before it even began. | |
Members of the Moranbong band unexpectedly turned up at Beijing's main airport just hours before their first concert and flew back to Pyongyang. | Members of the Moranbong band unexpectedly turned up at Beijing's main airport just hours before their first concert and flew back to Pyongyang. |
They were due to play three shows to help improve ties between China and North Korea. | They were due to play three shows to help improve ties between China and North Korea. |
It is not yet clear why the performances were cancelled. | It is not yet clear why the performances were cancelled. |
Moranbong are one of North Korea's most popular bands. The members were reportedly handpicked by the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, himself. | |
They play a mixture of Western and traditional Korean tunes, and have been happy to perform the theme from the film Rocky alongside patriotic songs praising North Korea's communist rulers. | |
The members play a range of instruments, including electric violins. | |
In their morally conservative homeland, the Moranbong musicians are also known for wearing revealing outfits and sporting fashionable hairstyles. | In their morally conservative homeland, the Moranbong musicians are also known for wearing revealing outfits and sporting fashionable hairstyles. |
The women were waved off for their first-ever foreign tour from Pyongyang railway station on Wednesday by senior leaders. | The women were waved off for their first-ever foreign tour from Pyongyang railway station on Wednesday by senior leaders. |
Dressed in military uniforms, they smiled and waved to fans when they came and went from their hotel after arriving in China. | Dressed in military uniforms, they smiled and waved to fans when they came and went from their hotel after arriving in China. |
Concerts cancelled | Concerts cancelled |
There was no hint of trouble when they practised in Beijing's National Centre for Performing Arts on Friday. | There was no hint of trouble when they practised in Beijing's National Centre for Performing Arts on Friday. |
A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman confirmed the performances were aimed at improving ties between China and North Korea. She also joked that she did not know where to get hold of a ticket for the concerts. | A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman confirmed the performances were aimed at improving ties between China and North Korea. She also joked that she did not know where to get hold of a ticket for the concerts. |
But on Saturday the band unexpectedly arrived at Beijing airport and boarded a plane back home - a scheduled flight whose departure was delayed for several hours. | But on Saturday the band unexpectedly arrived at Beijing airport and boarded a plane back home - a scheduled flight whose departure was delayed for several hours. |
The band's stage set was dismantled and its concerts were cancelled. Neither China nor North Korea has given an official reason for the abrupt end of the tour. | The band's stage set was dismantled and its concerts were cancelled. Neither China nor North Korea has given an official reason for the abrupt end of the tour. |
The two countries are allies. China's Chairman Mao once said they were as close as lips and teeth. | The two countries are allies. China's Chairman Mao once said they were as close as lips and teeth. |
But they have not always seen eye-to-eye over recent years. China has been particularly angry at three nuclear tests carried out by North Korea, the last in 2013. | But they have not always seen eye-to-eye over recent years. China has been particularly angry at three nuclear tests carried out by North Korea, the last in 2013. |
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