North Korea girl band singer to visit South Korea

THE lead singer of a hugely popular North Korean girl band is visiting South Korea this weekend as part of preparations for a trip by an art troupe that she also leads during next month’s Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Earlier this week, the rival Koreas agreed that the 140-member art troupe will perform twice in South Korea during the games amid signs of warming ties between the countries.

Its performances would be the first by a North Korean arts group in South Korea since 2002.

North Korea informed the South that it plans to send a seven-member advance team this weekend, and that it would be led by Hyon Song Wol, head of the Moranbong Band – the only girl band handpicked by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The North also identified Ms Hyon as head of the art troupe which will visit South Korea, Seoul’s unification ministry said.

Ms Hyon has been the focus of intense South Korean media interest since she attended inter-Korean talks at the border on Monday which reached agreement on the troupe’s visit. Her gestures during the talks as well as her makeup, looks, navy blue suit and green shoulder bag received widespread coverage.

Her Moranbong Band serves as the “soft” public face of the Kim government, with its young band members in short skirts and high heels or stylish military outfits singing and dancing odes to their leader.