N Korean delegation hits town

NORTH Korean delegates arrived in Seoul yesterday on their way to inspect venues and prepare cultural performances for next month’s Winter Olympics, in the first visit by Pyongyang officials to the South for four years.

Television footage showed a group of seven officials led by Hyon Song-wol, the leader of the North’s popular girl band Moranbong, crossing the heavily-fortified border on a bus before arriving at Seoul train station about an hour later.

The officials, surrounded by hundreds of Seoul police officers, then took a train to the eastern city of Gangneung, where one of the planned musical concerts is due to be held.

The trip comes two weeks after the neighbours agreed to send Pyongyang’s athletes, cheerleaders, artistic troupes and other delegates to the Games, due to begin in the South’s alpine resort of Pyeongchang on February 9.

The International Olympics Committee at the weekend endorsed the deal, saying the North would send 22 athletes in sports ranging from figure skating to speed skating.

The nations also agreed to march at an opening ceremony under a unification flag.

Picture: AP North Korean performer Hyon Song-wol arrives at Seoul train station on her way to check on preparations for a concert she will take part in during the Winter Olympics.