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North Korea to send ceremonial head Kim Yong-nam South | North Korea to send ceremonial head Kim Yong-nam South |
(about 3 hours later) | |
North Korea is to send its highest ranking official for years to the South amid an easing of tensions during the Winter Olympics. | |
Kim Yong-nam, the ceremonial head of state, will lead a 22-member delegation to the South beginning on Friday, said the South's Unification Ministry. | Kim Yong-nam, the ceremonial head of state, will lead a 22-member delegation to the South beginning on Friday, said the South's Unification Ministry. |
The two Koreas' athletes will march under one flag at the opening ceremony. | The two Koreas' athletes will march under one flag at the opening ceremony. |
The North's participation in the Games is widely seen as a diplomatic manoeuvre by Pyongyang. | |
It faces growing international pressure and sanctions over its nuclear and missile programmes. | |
The united Korean women's ice hockey team played its first match on Sunday, but lost the friendly against Sweden 1-3.= | |
They will get a chance to even the score when they face Sweden again during the Games. | |
Sunday's outing was the first and only practice match for the newly minted Korean squad. | Sunday's outing was the first and only practice match for the newly minted Korean squad. |
Kim Yong-nam is the head of the parliament in the North and will be the highest-level official to visit South Korea in four years. | Kim Yong-nam is the head of the parliament in the North and will be the highest-level official to visit South Korea in four years. |
An unnamed official from the South's presidential Blue House told the BBC that they believe this reflected a willingness on the part of North Korea to improve inter-Korean relations, and demonstrated the North's sincerity. | An unnamed official from the South's presidential Blue House told the BBC that they believe this reflected a willingness on the part of North Korea to improve inter-Korean relations, and demonstrated the North's sincerity. |
Mr Kim will lead a delegation of three other officials and 18 support staff, the Unification Ministry said. | Mr Kim will lead a delegation of three other officials and 18 support staff, the Unification Ministry said. |
It did not say whether he would attend the opening ceremony of the Games in Pyeongchang, a county in the mountainous east of South Korea. | It did not say whether he would attend the opening ceremony of the Games in Pyeongchang, a county in the mountainous east of South Korea. |
If so, it would put him in the company of US Vice President Mike Pence at a point of high tension with Washington over the North's nuclear ambitions. | If so, it would put him in the company of US Vice President Mike Pence at a point of high tension with Washington over the North's nuclear ambitions. |
The North has conducted a series of missile tests designed to demonstrate its nuclear capability. | The North has conducted a series of missile tests designed to demonstrate its nuclear capability. |
North Korea's participation in the Olympics, which run from 9 to 25 February, was a sudden turn towards reconciliation. | North Korea's participation in the Olympics, which run from 9 to 25 February, was a sudden turn towards reconciliation. |
It came after the hereditary leader Kim Jong-un extended an olive branch to the South in a New Year message, saying he was open to dialogue and could send a team to the Games. | It came after the hereditary leader Kim Jong-un extended an olive branch to the South in a New Year message, saying he was open to dialogue and could send a team to the Games. |
As well as the ice hockey players, North Korean athletes will compete in skiing and figure skating events. It is also sending hundreds of delegates, cheerleaders and performers. | As well as the ice hockey players, North Korean athletes will compete in skiing and figure skating events. It is also sending hundreds of delegates, cheerleaders and performers. |
However, there have already been some bumps in the road to reconciliation. | However, there have already been some bumps in the road to reconciliation. |
Earlier this week it emerged that the North had scheduled a large-scale military parade for 8 February, the day before the Winter Olympics commences. | Earlier this week it emerged that the North had scheduled a large-scale military parade for 8 February, the day before the Winter Olympics commences. |
Amid negative headlines, North Korea said no-one had the right to take issue with its plans and promptly cancelled a cultural event it was to hold jointly with the South. | Amid negative headlines, North Korea said no-one had the right to take issue with its plans and promptly cancelled a cultural event it was to hold jointly with the South. |
Meanwhile, although Seoul and Washington have agreed to delay the annual big joint military exercises which always enrage the North, they will still go ahead at the end of the Paralympics. | Meanwhile, although Seoul and Washington have agreed to delay the annual big joint military exercises which always enrage the North, they will still go ahead at the end of the Paralympics. |