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North Korea military parade ahead of Winter Olympics North Korea holds military parade ahead of Winter Olympics
(about 2 hours later)
North Korea appears to have held a low-key military parade, a day ahead of the opening of the Winter Olympics in the South, South Korean media say. North Korea has held a military parade attended by leader Kim Jong-un, a day before the opening of the Winter Olympics in the South.
The North often boasts of its parades but reports of this one appeared to surface after it had taken place. The North often boasts of its parades but reports of this surfaced afterwards with TV airing delayed footage.
This event is usually held in April and moving it had been seen as a setback to the warming of ties over the Olympics.This event is usually held in April and moving it had been seen as a setback to the warming of ties over the Olympics.
But the South announced on Thursday its president would meet the North's Olympics delegation on Saturday.But the South announced on Thursday its president would meet the North's Olympics delegation on Saturday.
Moon Jae-in will have lunch with the 22-strong team, which will include the North's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, and Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of leader Kim Jong-un. Moon Jae-in will have lunch with the 22-strong team, which will include the North's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, and Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong-un who will become the first member of the ruling dynasty to visit the South.
Olympic dynamics What do we know about the parade?
The timing of the parade had drawn criticism from the US as it is the first time in 40 years the annual event has been held in February. Early on Thursday state TV began showing patriotic films in what appeared to be a prelude to a live broadcast.
Early on Thursday state television began showing patriotic films in what appeared to be a prelude to a live broadcast of the parade. But delayed and unscheduled footage of the event only appeared on TV in the North at 17:30 local time (08:30 GMT).
But reports later surfaced that it had already occurred. The parade was reportedly smaller than recent years and the footage showed Kim Jong-un inspecting troops, alongside his wife Ri Sol-ju. There was the traditional goose-steeping and a show of heavy weapons.
"It seems that North Korea opened the parade at 10:30 (Seoul time)," anonymous government sources told South Korea's Yonhap news agency. The annual parade, which this year marks the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People's Army, is normally held in April and this was the first time in 40 years it had been given a February date.
In 2017, North Korea aired a live broadcast of its military parade on state television. Foreign journalists had been invited to cover the event. Such parades are often given a much higher profile. In 2017, North Korea aired a live broadcast of its military parade on state television. Foreign journalists were invited to cover the event.
South Korean government officials said last month that some 13,000 troops and 200 pieces of equipment had been spotted near an airport in Pyongyang in what appeared to be a rehearsal for the parade.South Korean government officials said last month that some 13,000 troops and 200 pieces of equipment had been spotted near an airport in Pyongyang in what appeared to be a rehearsal for the parade.
Experts said Pyongyang was expected to showcase its long-range missiles. Why hold the parade now?
This year's celebration marks the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People's Army, which was established on 8 February 1948. The North had insisted on the event, despite criticism from the US and others about its timing - a day before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, which run from 9 to 25 February in the mountain town of Pyeongchang.
The military parade came just one day before the start of the Winter Olympic Games, which will run from 9 to 25 February in the alpine town of Pyeongchang in South Korea. It had appeared to be a setback to the rapprochement with the South over the Games, which has generally seen a political charm offensive by the North.
The Games will see both Koreas march under one flag at the opening ceremony. It is not the only challenge the apparent warming of ties has faced.
North Korea's top Olympics delegation will travel by plane on Friday to the Games. There has been criticism in the South about a joint women's ice hockey team, and the North cancelled a pre-Olympics cultural event, citing media bias in the South.
But on Thursday North Korea said it has no intention of meeting US officials during the event, according to its official KCNA news agency. How the attendance of the North's delegation fits in with international sanctions and blacklists has also been a problem.
South Korea also asked the UN for an exemption to allow Choe Hwi, a UN sanctioned North Korean official, to attend the opening ceremony together with the rest of Pyongyang's delegation. South Korea has had to ask the UN for an exemption to allow Choe Hwi, a UN sanctioned North Korean official, to attend.
If the UN does not object to the exemption by 15:00 ET (20:00 GMT), the request will be granted. How is the political detente going?
US Vice-President Mike Pence will also be attending the opening ceremony in Pyeongchang on Friday, saying he wanted to "make sure North Korea doesn't use the powerful symbolism in the backdrop of the [Games] to paper over the truth about their regime". The Games will see both Koreas march under one flag at Friday's opening ceremony.
The main organiser of the Pyeongchang Olympics has said that the parade will not affect the "dynamics" of the Olympic Games. The South said President Moon would meet the North's team on Saturday, although no location was given.
Lee Hee-beom added that all 193 UN member states, including North Korea, have supported the UN Olympic Truce Resolution for the Winter Games. The top officials from the North will arrive by plane on Friday.
Under the truce, which begins seven days before the opening of the Winter Games and runs until the seventh day after the closing of the Winter Paralympics, all UN member states are urged to stop all hostilities. Most of its 280-strong delegation, including 229 cheerleaders, four officials from the National Olympic Committee, 26 taekwondo demonstrators and 21 journalists. arrived via a border crossing on Wednesday.
On Thursday, North Korea said it had no intention of meeting US officials during the event.
Who is representing the US at the Games?
Vice-President Mike Pence arrived in South Korea on Thursday, and will meet Mr Moon later in the day.
Mr Pence had earlier said he wanted to "make sure North Korea doesn't use the powerful symbolism in the backdrop of the [Games] to paper over the truth about their regime".
He also said the US would soon unveil "the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever".
Although he did not close the door to talks, saying there was the "possibility for any kind of an encounter", he said he would tell the North it would need to "once and for all abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile ambition".
It has now been confirmed Kim Jong-un's sister will attend Friday's opening ceremony.
The BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul says this could provide a diplomatic headache, as Mr Pence will be there with the father of Otto Warmbier, who died after being imprisoned in North Korea.
Some of the sport is already under way, ahead of the opening ceremony, including in curling, ski jumping and figure skating.