DPRK high-level delegation heads home after ROK visit

World Today

Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader Kim Jong Un, sat next to Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in at a concert by the Samjiyon Orchestra from Pyongyang on Sunday in Seoul.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s high-level delegation left the Republic of Korea (ROK) to return home on Sunday, Yonhap reports.

The DPRK delegation met with ROK President Moon four times during the historic three-day visit. One of the meetings resulted in a personal invitation for Moon to visit Pyongyang, delivered by Kim Yo Jong. 

Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of  DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, and his special envoy, was in town for many of the cultural events at the beginning of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Kim Yo Jong and the DPRK’s nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam were present at the concert performed by the Samjiyon Orchestra from Pyongyang.

The DPRK leader’s sister and special envoy, Kim Yo Jong, and the DPRK’s ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong Nam, sat with ROK President Moon Jae-in at a concert in Seoul by the Samjiyon Orchestra from Pyongyang, February 11, 2018. /VCG Photo

On Saturday, the DPRK delegation paid a visit to Moon at the presidential Blue House. During the talk with Moon, Kim Yo Jong verbally delivered the personal invitation from her brother – Kim Jong Un – who said he wants to meet Moon “in the near future” and would like for Moon to visit Pyongyang “at his earliest convenience.”

In response Moon said that he hopes that the right conditions can be created so that the proposed visit can take place.

Later in the day, Moon and the DPRK delegation also jointly attended the opening match of the unified women’s ice hockey team comprised of athletes from the North and the South.

Earlier on Sunday, Kim Yo Jong and Kim Yong Nam had lunch with ROK Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, an opportunity to discuss the invitation for Moon to visit the DPRK. 

ROK Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon (R) shakes hands with the DPRK leader Kim Jong Un’s sister and special envoy Kim Yo Jong prior to a luncheon meeting at a Seoul hotel on February 11, 2018. /VCG Photo‍

Lee echoed Moon’s remarks during the lunch and added that inter-Korean talks should continue after the Olympics.

The DPRK delegation’s visit to the ROK marks the warming of ties between Seoul and Pyongyang, while the West remains suspicious of Pyongyang’s approach.

At Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony, athletes from the two nations wore the same white jackets and marched together under a united Korean flag.

Speaking at the ceremony, ROK President Moon Jae-in called the Games a “festival and celebration of peace.”